Hansen, Etta May "Skip" 1925-2014

RIDDLE, HANSEN, ALBIN, CRAVEN, NAGY, BOWEN, RODRIGUEZ, BURCHETTE, RUDOLPH, SPARKS, DIXON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/21/2014 at 08:33:53

WASHINGTON - Etta May "Skip" Hansen, 88, of Washington, devoted wife, mother, seamstress, cook and miracle healer of scraped knees, passed away at 10:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, at Washington Christian Village in Washington, Ill. She passed peacefully and without fear. She loved her family and spent her life making things better for all of them. She loved the sounds of children playing, and in her heaven, there will be many babies and little children in need of her care.

Skip was born Dec. 21, 1925, in her home in Chilhowee, Mo., to Walter Oren and Minnie May Albin Riddle. Before her third birthday, her mother passed away, but she had the love and support of her father and many siblings. Her lucky day was when her father was remarried to Ruby Genevieve (Craven) Riddle, and her tender spirit raised Skip in a loving and caring household.

During World War II, Skip corresponded with various servicemen and by chance one of those she grew to know via letters was Louis Howard Hansen, whom she married March 25, 1946. Louis was not only a devoted husband for over 68 years, but he obviously was an excellent letter writer. Skip leaves behind her husband, Louis H. Hansen of Washington, Ill.; three sons and daughters-in-law, Dennis L. (Peggy) Hansen of Bethany, Mo., Phillip W. (Debra) Hansen of Washington, Ill., and Bruce L. (Judith) Hansen of Fairfax Station, Va.; 10 grandchildren, Francine A. Hansen of Kansas City, Mo., Denise D. Nagy of Raytown, Mo., Nicole A. (Jacob) Bowen of Lees Summit, Mo., Joseph E. and Robert M. Rodriguez of Kansas City, Mo., Nathan C. (Heidi) Burchette of Morton, Ill., Nicholas W. Hansen of Washington, Ill., James E. L. Hansen of Kansas City, Mo., and Erik B. and Cory A. Hansen of Fairfax Station, Va.; six great-grandchildren, Evan H. and Carson D. Rudolph and Sophie J. Bowen of Lees Summit, Mo., Kyle W. Nagy of Raytown, Mo., and Samantha C. and M. Lupe Rodriguez of Kansas City, Mo.; brother, Norman (Maribelle) Riddle of Pella, Iowa; and sister, Doris (James) Sparks of Newton, Iowa; along with many cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her daughter, Linda (Ray) Dixon.

Skip was gifted in all crafts and whatever craft she endeavored, she mastered. Her skilled hands and careful eye for detail made her an expert seamstress and she taught herself the most difficult tailoring techniques. She didn't do it for money or career, she did it for family and some self-satisfaction. We would all tease her about how much fabric she was storing, but the light in her eye when she got excited about a project made you appreciate the genius of this fine lady. She loved animals and, for the most part, she never spoke ill of any persons. Her humility was natural and even though she was a beautiful lady, she carried herself as a plain woman and mother. She thought of herself as a typical Scots-Irish hillbilly with humble roots. Truth was, she was descended from a rich family heritage of hard-working farmers, pioneers and woodsmen who came to this country before the revolution and helped clear the wilderness.

A celebration of Skip's life will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014, at Deiters Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington. Visitation will be one hour prior at the funeral home. Interment will be in Glendale Cemetery in Washington. ~ The Des Moines Register Legacy, Des Moines, Iowa 3 Oct 2014.