Marian Hanson

Marian A. Hanson, age 84, of Spicer, died Saturday morning, March 18, at Copperleaf Senior Living in Willmar.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Friday, March 24, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar.  Interment will be in the church cemetery.  Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. time of sharing on Thursday, March 23, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.  Memorials are preferred to the Willmar Area Food Shelf.

Marian Annabelle Hanson was born March 14, 1933 on a small farm near Milan, Minnesota to Amund "A.J." and Ida (Myrom) Torgelson.  She attended a one-room country school and later graduated from Milan High School a year early.  She then attended Moorhead State Teachers College.  She began teaching grade school in Madison and Appleton when she was 19.  Marian took college classes and traveled by bus and train during her summer vacation. She later decided to obtain her bachelor's degree at the University of Minnesota, where she met Duane Hanson, who was attending dental school at the university. Marian then began teaching grade school in Bloomington.  Marian and Duane were married on June 29, 1959 in Minneapolis.  After their marriage they lived in Montana, where Duane was stationed in the Air Force.  Following Duane's discharge in 1962, they moved to Willmar, where Duane began his dental practice.

In Willmar, Marian became involved with the New Residents Club, taught part time and was part of the school support system.  She was part of several bridge clubs and study clubs.  She was active at St. Mary's, where she taught release time, was a member of the Daughters of Isabella, and enjoyed working in the kitchen.  She also greatly enjoyed her part in Grandma's Attic at the church's fall festival. Marian also enjoyed traveling and visited all seven continents and over 120 countries. Her most favorite trip was an African Safari.

As a mother of five children, Marian kept them busy with school activities, homework, and household chores and helped each of them develop their own individual talents.  She was a great chef and enjoyed hosting birthday parties for her children and entertaining adults on a weekly basis.  She baked a wide variety of cookies during the holidays to share with family and friends.  Marian was so loved and was so proud that all 25 of her children and grandchildren from all over the country would gather at her home for at least 5 days over the Fourth of July and at Christmas time.

Marian is survived by her husband: Dr. Duane Hanson of Spicer, MN; five children: Susan (and Wally) McClellan of Pittsburg, PA, and Shelly (and Carl) David of Hawaii; Eric (and Andrea) Hanson of Knoxville, TN, Dr. Thomas (and Kathy) Hanson of Buffalo, MN, and Drs. Michael (and Jodi Fonkert) Hanson of Spicer, MN; twelve grandchildren: Stacy (and Adrian), Kristi, Remington, Ciara, Ben, Isabelle, Riley, Cole, Nick, Brett, Samantha, and Jessa; a sister: Elizabeth (and Pete) Mathison of Detroit Lakes, MN; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents: A.J. and Ida Torgelson; her father-in-law and mother-in-law: Theodore and Alvina Hanson; and her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Darlene and Ken Mills.

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