Hansen, Nelda Martha (Gerling) 1915-2006

HANSEN, GERLING, RIEDEMANN, MARSHALL, KOBER, FARMER

Posted By: Linda Mohning (email)
Date: 1/13/2012 at 02:00:56

Nelda Martha Hansen, 91, of Remsen, died Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006, at Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen.
Nelda Martha Hansen was born March 4, 1915, in Le Mars, the daughter of Aaron and Mary Ellen (Langendorfer) Gerling. Nelda was raised in the Le Mars are and received her education at Le Mars Community School from which she graduated in 1932. She and her siblings spent many fun days wading in the Floyd River by their family farm. The Gerling Family Orchestra was well known in the Le Mars area and played many engagements in area churches and on the radio. Nelda was an accomplished musician on the piano, xylophone and trumpet.
She met her late husband, Allan Hansen, as a young adult and they were married in her parents’ home in Le Mars on June 7, 1934. They lived with Allan’s parents from that time until moving to the Hansen farm northeast of Remsen in March 1936, where they remained until the fall of 1985 when they moved to Orange City. Allan died Sept 15, 2003. She remained in their home until July 2005, when she made her residence at Happy Siesta in Remsen.
Nelda and Allan attended the Assembly of God Church in Le Mars until the mid 1950’s when they made St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Remsen their home church. Nelda was active in the church, using her musical talents by directing the children, junior and adult choirs.
She enjoyed accompanying her husband and children on many fishing trips and later enjoyed their summer home on Mantrap Lake near Park Rapids, Minn. While Allan was busy fishing, Nelda would spend her favorite past time painting pictures on canvas or whatever else she could find to paint on. Her artistic ability was a natural talent. She took art in high school and some instruction at Western Union College in Le Mars while still in high school. She entered many of her paintings at fairs or art exhibits in the Remsen-Le Mars area, Spencer and in Park Rapids, Minn., and won many champion and grand champion ribbons. Her art work was displayed at the Plymouth County Museum in the early 1970’s. Nelda’s art work included hand painted greeting cards for friends and relatives.
Nelda and her late husband enjoyed bowling mixed league, playing cards with friends and relatives and spending time with children and grandchildren.
Survivors include one son, Dale and his wife Darlene of Le Mars, one daughter, Caryn, and her husband Wendell Riedemann of Remsen; six grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Myla Marshall of New Brighton, Minn.; one brother, Gordon and his wife Shirley Gerling of Akron; four nieces and one nephew.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Marjorie Kober and her husband Andy; and a great-great-grandson, Elijah Farmer.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 11, at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Remsen, with the Rev. Craig Miller officiating. Burial will be in Remsen City Cemetery. Friends may call any time after 4 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Remsen. There will be a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation will resume Monday from 9 a.m. until service time at the church. The Fisch Funeral Home of Remsen is in charge of arrangements.
Casketbearers will be Dennie and Doug Hansen, Tom Farnworth, Steve and Robert Riedemann, Tom Bohnenkamp. – Le Mars Daily Sentinel, Dec. 7, 2006, page 5.