Doris Jean Anderson

Doris Jean Anderson, 95, of Mitchell, South Dakota passed away on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at Avera Brady in Mitchell. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 7, 2026, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Stickney with burial to follow at St. Mary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass at church. Will Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to St. Mary Cemetery in Stickney.

Doris Leonard was born in Armour, SD on May 9, 1930, to Clarence and Elizabeth (Robinson) Leonard and was the second of 11 children. She was raised on the farm one mile east of Armour, SD. She graduated from Armour High School in 1949 and along with her sister Kathryn, attended summer school at Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, SD to earn a certificate in teaching. She taught at a country school for 4 years.

On February 14, 1953, Doris married Rex Anderson Jr. at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Armour, SD. Rex was currently enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in Washington State where they lived for two years. Upon Rex’s discharge from the Navy, they moved back to Stickney, SD where Rex took over his family farm located 7 miles southwest of Stickney. They had 6 children, 5 boys and one girl. She and Rex lived on the farm until Rex’s death in 1992. A year later, she moved to the town of Stickney where she lived until 2019.

Doris was a happy and fun-loving person who always greeted you with a big smile and love in her voice. She greatly enjoyed being with people, playing cards, or enjoying a cup of coffee. She was active in her faith community at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Stickney, teaching catechism and as member of the Altar Society and Catholic Daughters. She served as a local election board member and was an active member of the Red Hat Society.

Doris is survived by her sons, Mike (Mavis) Anderson, Mitchell, SD; Jerry (Mary Kay) Anderson, Papillion, NE; Jim (Maral) Anderson, Grand Island, NE; Mark (Merri) Anderson, Sioux Falls, SD; and David (Colleen) Anderson, Snohomish, WA; daughter, Colleen(David) Glissendorf, White Lake, SD; along with 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; sisters, Mary Weerheim, Emmett, ID; Margie (Jim) Whetham, Armour, SD; brothers, James (Janet) Leonard, Armour, SD; Dennis Leonard, Bonesteel, SD; Larry (Carol) Leonard, Armour, SD; brother-in-law, Don Flakus, Lake Havasu, AZ; and sister-in-law, Vonnie Leonard, Armour, SD.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, brothers, Gerald and Leo Leonard; sisters, Kathryn McElroy, Colleen Rickert, and Emily Flakus, and brothers-in-law, Jerry McElroy, Al Rickert and Harry Weerheim.