Dolores G. Andersen, 71
Grand Marais – Dolores “Dee” Gayle Andersen, 71, died Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015 at the Cook County North Shore Care Center.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, Jan. 16 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais.
Delores was born Sept. 14, 1944, in Thief River Falls, to Orville and Belle (Anderson) Rolandson.
She graduated from Lincoln High School, Thief River Falls in 1962. Shortly after earning her cosmetology license from Thief River Vocational School, she moved to Grand Marais in 1963, having accepted a job offer at Bernice’s Beauty Shop. She had never heard of Grand Marais, let alone knew where it was and then she never left.
The same year she arrived, she married Harry Freeberg and they were blessed with two daughters, LeAnn and Linda. In 1969 Bernice’s Beauty Shop was sold to Dave and Georgette DeBeltz. Dee continued to work for them until 1980, having taken a five-year break when her beloved son, Eddie, was born. In 1985, with Eddie now safely in kindergarten, she opened her own salon, Dee’s Hair of Elegance, as a new addition to her own home. She kept busy in her salon right up until a few weeks before her death. Dee absolutely loved being a hairstylist.
She was a devoted mother and friend, a loving grandmother and very proud to be a great grandmother.
Dee and Harry were part of the Founding Families of the Evangelical Free Church in Grand Marais where they served on many boards and taught Sunday School for many years. She was also a member of Royal Neighbors of America and was currently a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Grand Marais.
There was absolutely no project she wouldn’t tackle and enjoyed such hobbies as ceramics, upholstery, sewing and painting. However (!), her favorite pastime, by far, was gardening. In late summer, visitors to her home and beauty salon were welcomed by a yard that had the most spectacular black-eyed Susans you’ve ever seen. And, she loved baking for the holidays, always making cookie and treat trays for family and friends. She was kind, she was very generous with affection, and she had a real “gift to gab.”
Despite her many difficult losses, Dee always held onto a strong conviction in her faith in God and had no doubt she would one day be reunited with her loved ones. She will be sadly missed by her family friends, and customers alike.
Dee is survived by her daughters, LeAnn Zunker (Dave Wilbourn), and Linda Grivette (Ryan), both of Grand Marais; grandchildren Josie Freeberg, Jayden Grivette, Alison Zunker, and Jordan Zunker; great- grandchildren Isabella and Harris; sister Beverly (Roland) Larsen, Bloomington; brothers Gary (MaryAnn), Rosemount, Minnesota, and Ken (Lynn) of East Grand Forks, Minnesota, and many nieces and nephews. Also dear to her were John’s children, Todd, Dee and Shannon.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husbands Harry Freeberg, Edward Hanson, John Andersen and also her beloved angel, son Edward Vaughn Hanson, who left his mother at age 15, the result of a tragic accident. Dee walked daily in strong faith with the Lord and always looked forward to the day when she would see her little boy again. What an on-going reunion that must be!
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