Dennis Leslie Anderson, 62, of Murray, UT, beloved husband of Barbara Clay Anderson, was also a loved brother, uncle, and friend. He was born April 11, 1954 in Burley, Idaho, the youngest of eight children, to Max C. and Betty Dahlquist Anderson. He passed away on January 8, 2017 in Murray, Utah just 22 days after he was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Dennis was a genuinely good guy. Those of us who knew him will always remember him as a sweet and wonderful man. His indomitable spirit was tested by some tough breaks in life. At 7 months of age Dennis contracted spinal meningitis which left him profoundly deaf.
He attended the Utah Schools for the Deaf, first in Salt Lake City then at the Ogden campus. In the early years, he was taught to lipread and to speak by the oral method, but not to sign. For Dennis that proved difficult. His family had been asked not to learn American Sign Language while he studied by the oral method and that hindered communication with them through his adult years. Dennis did learn to use ASL while on the Ogden campus. In school Dennis met, and later married, Barbara June Clay. They were married for 40 years and he was her steady helpmate even as she began losing her vision and had other medical problems. He did so with a loving and positive spirit. Barbara had communicated for them both by texting on her iPad. When she could no longer see it, Dennis took over, learning how to use the device and texting even though using technology was not his strong point. He never complained.
Dennis was a long-time employee of the culinary department of St. Mark's Hospital. In his spare time he loved to craft some delightfully artistic wall hangings, dolls, holiday decorations and beaded work. His siblings still remember some of the ingenious things he created as a child. He kept that passion through his life. It is amazing how, with no instruction, he invented ways to create the projects he envisioned.
Dennis has many friends in the deaf community. He was a loyal and trusting companion, always willing to help others. They were welcome to crash at his home and share his food. Sometimes he was taken advantage of and he could get frustrated and angry, but never bitter. He always maintained a forgiving and loyal spirit.
Dennis is survived by his wife Barbara, brothers Tim (Kathy), Max (Sally), and Carry (Debbie); sisters Gay (Sheridan) Smith, Joy (Butch) Crist, and Adelia (Gene) Gallegos; sisters-in-law Lorraine (Phil) Quigley, Pat (Emiel) Bryker, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Max and Betty, by his sister and her husband, Jackie and Lynn Burrows, and by his nephews, Jared Roberts and Darrell Anderson.
A celebration of his life will be held at South Valley Unitarian Church, 6876 South Highland Drive, Cottonwood Heights, UT on Thursday, Jan. 19th, 2017, from 4-6 PM. Informal dress.
All of us who loved Dennis will miss his wonderful laugh, his engaging smile and his loving spirit. We love youDennis.
