Hanson, Virginia Ann (Halvorson) -- 1931 - 2011
HANSON, HALVORSON, SLETTEN, VAN GORP, ELSBERND, LAKE, TESCH, PROEHL, FRANA, QUAM, LEONHART
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 6/1/2012 at 12:55:13
Decorah Public Opinion Feb. 1, 2011
Virginia Hanson, age 79, of Decorah, died Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse, Wis.
Virginia Ann (Halvorson) Hanson was born Oct. 9, 1931 in Decorah, Iowa, the daughter of Roy and Mae (Sletten) Halvorson.
She was confirmed at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church in rural Decorah. Virginia attended Decorah High School and then started working at Woolworth’s in Decorah.
Virginia was united in marriage to Arlin P. Hanson Nov. 21, 1948 at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church. This union was blessed with five children: Wendy, Sandra, Greg, Randy and Brian. After their marriage, they began farming north of Decorah and then moved to the Washington Prairie area to farm in 1953. Virginia was very active with the family farm. They moved into Decorah in 1988.
Virginia was active at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, was a former President of WELCA, was a Sunday School Teacher for many years and helped in the kitchen at church with weddings, funerals and Nordic Fest dinners. She was very active as a 4-H leader; she also cooked at the Pine Bluff 4-H Camp, the 4-H Restaurant, the Cow Palace and at Decorah Schools. She was a member of the Pork Producers, Milk Maids, the Red Hat Society and Northeast Iowa Quilters Guild; she made many quilts for her family and friends. She made numerous wedding cakes over the course of many years. Virginia and Arlin loved to square dance; she loved the neighborhood birthday parties and weekly coffee time get-togethers. Virginia and Arlin enjoyed many winters in Arizona with all of their friends there.
Virginia is survived by her husband Arlin; five children: Wendy (Bob) Van Gorp of Cedar Falls, Sandra (Keith) Elsbernd, Calmar, Greg (Dianne) Hanson, Randy (Lisa) Hanson and Brian (Rachel) Hanson, all of Decorah; eleven grandchildren: Sarah (Mitch) Lake, Jason (Samantha) Van Gorp, David Elsbernd, Kristen (Cale) Tesch, Melissa Elsbernd, Ross Hanson, Kaitlin Hanson, Jordan Hanson, Ben Hanson, Joel Hanson and Tony Hanson; one great-granddaughter, Emery Lake; one brother Roger Halvorson of Decorah; three brothers-in-law: Otto Proehl of La Crosse, Wis., Julius Frana of Calmar, and Willard (Verna) Hanson of Decorah; one sister-in-law, Roselyn (Bud) Quam of Decorah; and by many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Mae Halvorson; three sisters: Maris Proehl, Marilyn Leonhart and Sonja Frana; one sister-in-law Helen Halvorson; one brother-in-law Dean Leonhart; and four brothers- and sisters-in-law: Kenneth and Helen Hanson and Merlin and Evelyn Hanson.
Funeral services were Monday, Jan 31, at 11 a.m. at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, rural Decorah, with the Rev. Mark Kvale officiating. Remembrances were read by Deanna Hageman. Organist was Paul Bruvold and soloist was Harold Pederson, singing “Green, Green Grass of Home.” Congregational hymns included “What A Friend We Have in Jesus,” “Children of the Heavenly Father” and “Lead On, O King Eternal.” Honorary bearers were Donna and Albert Ashbacher, Martha and Dave Huinker, Linda and Jerry Johnson, Mary Lou and Harry Lensch, Adele Nesheim, Ruth and Glenn Remmen, and Kay and Vernon Spilde. Casket bearers were David Elsbernd, David Hanson, Wayne Hanson, Bill Leonhart, Fred Leonhart, David Proehl and Kevin Roney. Interment was at Washington Prairie Lutheran Cemetery, rural Decorah. Fjelstul Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Transcribed from a newspaper clipping submitted by Janice Sowers
Washington Prairie Lutheran Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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