Helen Mae Hanson

Helen M. Hanson, 92 of Devils Lake ND passed away on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at Eventide Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake.

Funeral Services for Helen will be held on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Reverend Jim Paulson officiating.  Burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery.  The funeral service will be live-streamed through St. Olaf’s Facebook page.

Visitation will be at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Sunday, February 7, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. with a time of prayer and sharing at 4:00 p.m.  Visitation on Monday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service.

Helen Mae, daughter of Monroe and Vera (Davidson) Weed was born on August 20, 1928 at the General Hospital in Devils Lake.  Helen would call the Lake Region area her home her entire life.  She attended school in Devils Lake and graduated from Central High School with the class of 1946. Helen worked at JC Penney’s before her marriage. 

Helen, the “Blonde Bomber” pitcher for the neighborhood softball team, met her future husband Walter Hanson when she pitched a 3 strikes you are out to him at a summer game.    But love bloomed anyway, and they were united in marriage on February 9^th, 1948 in Devils Lake.  They established their home in Poplar Grove Township where they farmed, ranched, and raised their family through the years.  They also operated the Lake Region Livestock Sales Ring Café from 1959 until 1965.  In 1966, they bought the Seivert Thompson Ranch, rural Warwick where they farmed until 1977.  They then moved to Lakewood but continued to farm until 1989.  In 1998 the rising waters of Devils Lake forced a move into Devils Lake.   For 18 years, they wintered in Arizona and enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii and also were thrilled to travel to Norway and the Vancouver Island of Canada.  They treasured family camping trips and one of their happiest trips was taking their 3 granddaughters to Disney World as a celebration of Helen and Walter’s 50^th Wedding Anniversary. 

Helen was a domestic girl, but soon was the typical farmer’s wife learning to milk cows, drive the tractor, grow a huge garden and canning the produce, cooking delicious meals for the farm crew and all the family events and holidays.  Helen kept a daily journal for many, many years of all the happenings of the Hanson household.  

She was a baptized and confirmed member of the Methodist Church, then after moving to Warwick, joining the Warwick Lutheran Church and then a very active member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, WELCA, quilters and participated in the many church projects and events.  She also enjoyed over 50 years of membership in the Rebekah’s, Sons of Norway and Grand Harbor Homemakers of which she was an honorary charter member because she accompanied her mother to the meetings even before she was born.  She was a 4-H Leader, helped with Senior Meals and Services and volunteered for many years as a hairdresser at Lake Region Lutheran Home, now Eventide Heartland Care Center until retiring from that job just 3 years ago. 

Helen was a devoted wife, loving mother and fun-loving grandmother and great grandmother. She played all the outside games and would get down to their level to play with those precious great grandchildren.  Helen knew and loved her Lord, valued her friends and neighbors and loved her family unconditionally with all her heart. 

Helen’s loving family include her children and their spouses Armen and Connie Hanson, Devils Lake and Connie and Darrel Heins of Fessenden ND; three grandchildren and seven great grandchildren Callie Jo (Josh) Greene and their children Chayson and Brea Mae all of Thompson ND, Dusti (Eric) Mogren and their children Hunter and Kaidynce Mae of Castle Rock CO, Kaila (Justin) Muscha and their children Harper, Cooper and Walker of Fessenden ND; sister Dorothy Hodous, Devils Lake; sisters-in-law Lois Weed, Carol Weed and Ila Weed; special friend Helen Weed and many nieces, nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Walter on February 4, 2013 and brothers Donald, Raymond and Richard Weed.