Delores Kay Sanders

1950 - 2022

Delores Kay Sanders passed away following a lengthy battle with cancer on Jan. 27, 2022, at her home in North Pole, Alaska, while holding the hand of her loving husband of 45 years, Richard Sanders. Known to her friends and family as Dodie, she was born to Kenneth A. Lorz and Lucy U. Greer-Lorz in Tonasket, Washington, on July 28, 1950.
Dodie was the first born of four girls, a group that would be known as The Lorz Girls. The Lorz Girls were a group seen swimming, biking, hunting worms and otherwise adventuring in Washington, Idaho and eventually Alaska. At the height of the building of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, Dodie's parents, Ken and Sue, adventured north. Dodie stayed behind with her two young daughters, but joined them in 1975 and thus began her Alaskan adventure, spending time with her family whenever and wherever she could. Dodie explained many times that her favorite thing was hearing her house filled with the sounds of family.
Dodie and Rick met in 1976 and Rick's family welcomed Dodie and her daughters into their family with open arms from their first meeting. Dodie and Rick spent as much time as they could at their cabin on the Salcha River and at a recently built family favorite place on Harding Lake. Getting away from the hustle of town, out in the fresh air, quiet and beauty of Alaska's outdoors brought great joy to Dodie, especially when her family joined her.
Dodie and Rick worked together in their family business, RDM Sanders Construction, and were later joined by their son, Kace. Dodie was an artist at heart and always had some project in painting, cross stitching, quilting, knitting or other crafty technique in process. Grandma Dodie's kitchen was a family favorite spot as well, where many a group meal was prepared and shared.
All that Dodie was and all that Dodie did will be greatly missed by those who were blessed in sharing her life's adventures. Parties and family dinners will not be the same.
She leaves behind her husband, Rick; daughter and family, Brenda and Jeff Bowles (granddaughters Alexandra, Adria and Talia and two great grandchildren); daughter and family Dawn and Mike Hays (grandson's Nelson and Nolan); son and family Kace and Kim Sanders (grandchildren Savannah, Hailey and Wesley and two great grandchildren). Dodie also leaves her three sisters, Beverly Lorz Smith, Barbara Lorz and Sherry Lorz and their 6 children and many grand nieces and nephews. These hearts and more are missing a piece forevermore.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers please consider donating in memory of Dodie to the Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska through bcdcofalaska.org or direct funds to FMH Hospice Services through fairbankshospitalfoundation.com.
A outdoor celebration of life will take place on a sunny day in one of her favorite places at a later date.
Online condolences can be made to the family at blanchardfamilyfuneralhome.com.