Obit: Hanson, Mary #3 (1872 - 1941)

Contact:  stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Hanson, Penn, Earle, Andrews, Crowell, Waldhart, Farrington, Phillips, Driscoll, Hoftiezer, Prehn, Orgish, Jacobitz, McIlhattan, Holterman, Martin, Richardson, Priest, Byse, Cowles, Steiner, Schilling, Bartel, Kuehnau, House, Creed, Messer, Roith, Hayward, Follett

----Source: Spencer Record, Spencer, Wis.) 07/03/1941

Hanson, Mary (11 FEB 1872 - 24 JUN 1941)

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR MISS MARY HANSON HELD

Funeral services for Miss Mary Elladore Hanson, 69, were held Saturday from the Swarthout funeral home at 1:45 p.m. and the Methodist church at 2:00 p.m., in charge of the Rev. Penn, pastor, with the sermon-eulogy by the Rev. E. B. Earle, chaplain of Wisconsin Veterans Home from 1913 to 1939.  Mrs. Russell Andrews and Miss Rizpah Crowell sang "Asleep to Jesus" and "The Christian’s Goodnight"; Miss Ardath Waldhart at the piano.  Interment was made in the family lot in the Spencer cemetery.  Eastern Star burial rites being read by the Marshfield chapter, and benediction by the Rev.  Earle.

Miss Hanson was born in Sherman township, Clark county, Feb. 11, 1872, on a farm her father, D. Marvin Hanson, homesteaded in 1866, and she passed away Tuesday, 4:40 p.m., June 24, 1941, following a long period of declining health that dated from a critical operation Jan. 22, 1940.  When she was 7 years of age the family, Mr. and Mrs. Hanson, Mary, George and Alice, moved to Spencer and here she lived the remainder of her life, received her education in the Spencer public school; at the age of 17 taught her first school in the Hall district west of here, and left the teaching profession in 1899.  Thereafter she engaged in various occupations, millinery, dressmaking, taught music some, assisted her uncle, George Farrington, in his store, and for nine years kept house and made a pleasant home for her uncle, Joe Farrington, who was left alone on the farm; also gave faithful, loving care to her father, mother, Uncle George and Uncle Joe in the final illness of each.

During all her busy life, she read extensively, traveled over many states of our Union, thus increasing her store of knowledge until she has been called the best read woman in Spencer.  Her interest in things religious began at an early age and for more than fifty years she was Red Cross work in Spencer for several years; was the leading spirit in the American Legion Auxiliary for ten years, serving as local president, and county president one year; and had long been an active member of the Eastern Star in Marshfield.

She was broad-minded, charitable, a loyal friend in her own unassuming way, quick to respond to the needs of others who were overtaken by sorrow, sickness or misfortune, as many a one of this community can testify.  Conscious of her own shortcomings, in her long period of invalidism she often expressed surprise and appreciation for the numerous and continued tokens of regard and remembrance she received from many sources.  And this friendly attention followed her to the tomb.  The floral offerings, beautiful and abundant, were carried by members of the Ladies’ Aid society:  Mesdames Fred Phillips, Laurence Driscoll, Shirley Hoftiezer, Harry Prehn, John Orgish and Clyde Jacobitz.  Ushers at the church were Mrs. Austin McIlhattan and Mrs. Will Holterman.  Pall bearers were members of the American Legion.  Ladies of the Legion Auxiliary served lunch at noon and at 4:00 p.m. in the church basement for the family and friends.

Mary is survived by two brothers, George of Spencer and Lee of Prentice; two nieces and three nephews, Kenneth of Oak Park, Ill; Violet of Chicago; Williard of Delavan, and [unreadable] of Prentice; an uncle Melville Hanson of Milwaukee, and a number of cousins including Mrs. Albert Martin of Spencer and Mrs. Hattie Richardson of Neillsville, and a host of friends near and far.

Friends from away, outside the immediate family, present at the funeral:  Mr. and Mrs. Art Priest, son and daughter, of Lornira; Mrs. Hattie Richardson and Mrs. Chas. Byse of Neillsville; Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Cowles and Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Steiner of Loyal; Ed. Schilling of Stevens Point; Otto Bartel and Eastern Star members of Marshfield; Mrs. J. R. Kuehnau, Mrs. Sam House, Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Creed and E. L. Messer and daughter of Unity; Mrs. John Roith of Washington, D. C.; Mrs. Walker Hayward, Minneapolis; Al Follett of Ladysmith.