Ella Marie Hanson, age 86, of Glendive, MT, passed away on June 9, 2017, at Glendive Medical Center – Extended Care.
Ella was born on July 29, 1930, in Ray, ND, to Lars and Eline (Amundson) Bakke. She was raised and educated in Wheelock and graduated from high school in 1949.
As the youngest of six, one brother and four sisters, Ella was part of a “hard working family” during the Depression years. In 1942, Ella lost her father Lars, when she was only 12 years old. As her siblings grew up and left home, and with the death of her father, Ella and her mother, worked hard to make ends meet.
When growing up, there were no telephones and Ella had to walk to the grocery store and carry the groceries home. Neighbors would knock on the door and ask for help. Ella learned at a young age, by watching her mother, to be a willing helper. She also would go door to door to see if anyone needed any help. At this time, she developed her strong faith in God and her love of spiritual music. She loved spending hours listening to her mother sing hymns and read from the Bible.
Although the town was small, the education was good and Ella enjoyed school and participating in sports. She was very fast and loved playing half-court basketball. She often stole the ball from an opponent, dribbled down the court, stopped and would sink a “2-handed Granny Ball” to score.
In 1949, Ella graduated from Wheelock High School with a class of six. Following graduation, she worked as a CNA at the hospital in Williston. Later she attended college at NDSCS in Wahpeton, ND. She graduated in 1952, as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She was immediately hired at the hospital in Wolf Point, MT, and took the train to begin working there.
While working in Wolf Point, she met a young farmer by the name of Marbie Hanson and they began dating. Ella and Marbie got married on October 25, 1953, and resided on the farm 22 miles north of Wolf Point, in the Volt community. In September of 1954, Marbie and Ella welcomed their only child, Marlin into their lives.
As a child growing up, Ella had been working around livestock with her parents, and she adapted quickly to working along-side her husband with day-to-day farm/ranch duties. Ella grew to love rural life in Montana. Cattle, chickens and cats became a large part of Ella’s life through the years. She especially loved springtime, with newborn calves, kittens, and young hen pullets occupying here time. Native plants on the prairie, like sweet peas, crocuses, and blue bells were a treasured memory for Ella, brightening her days.
Ella kept busy cooking meals for her family and hired hands, mending clothes, caring for her husband and son, and being kind to others. Ella was an excellent cook and was always looking for new recipes to try. She enjoyed baking, especially banana bread, and her baked goods were always a favorite treat. She loved music and went to dances with Marbie, to dance and listen to polkas and waltzes. Ella was always there for her husband and son by being a loving and attentive wife and mother.
Ella had a strong demeanor and never minced words, often telling others the way it was in relatively few words. Ella had a twinkle in her eyes and made many happy memories for her family and friends. Ella received great pleasure from sharing time with other ladies from the rural Volt community. She was proud of her Norwegian heritage and loved to cook Norsk meals, even lutefisk! She would speak Norwegian occasionally and taught her son how to say a few words and some table prayers.
Ella went many years before finally getting a driver license in 1963. A whole new world opened up to her. She could now take hot meals to the men working in the fields, visit neighbors, go shopping, and stay busy taking people places and helping others in any way she could. She returned to work at the hospital, when times were tough on the farm, because she could drive herself to work. Always willing to help, Ella worked tirelessly to make the life of her family happy and productive.
Ella’s life was drastically changed in 1973, with the unexpected death of her husband Marbie, at only 42 years of age. She stayed on the farm a few more years in the Volt community, before moving into Wolf Point in 1976. Ella resided at her home there becoming very involved in church activities and enjoying family and friends until 2006, when she moved to Dickinson, ND, after a battle with breast cancer, to be closer to her son and daughter-in-law, and their family. On the move again in 2009, Ella followed her son to Glendive, MT, and settled into a new senior living facility called Makoshika Estates. At each move, Ella developed many new and strong friendships that she cherished immensely. Health issues forced Ella to move into Glendive Medical Center – Extended Care in 2014, where she resided until her death.
Ella was preceded in death by her husband, Marbie; by her parents, Lars and Eline; sisters: Helen, Olga, Inga and Lilly; brother: Arnold; nieces: Kirsten and Elaine Kay; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
She is survived by her son, Marlin (Laurel) Hanson of Dickinson, ND; her five grandchildren, Vondra Iverson of Fargo, ND, VaNessa (Tambouzi) Green of Ft. Drum, NY, Scott (Rachel) Hanson of West Fargo, ND, Brent (Tina) Hanson of Dickinson, ND and Jeffery (Stephanie) Hanson of Fargo, ND; her six great-grandchildren, MacKenzie, Brantyn (Bubba), Esequiel, Noelle, Avery, and Autumn, with another granddaughter due in October; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. Friday, June 16 at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. A funeral service will be held 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 17 at the First Lutheran Church in Wolf Point. Interment will follow at the Greenwood Cemetery in Wolf Point. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Service Schedule
Visitation
2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Friday June 16, 2017
Clayton Stevenson Chapel
102 Custer Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Funeral Service
1:30 p.m.
Saturday June 17, 2017
First Lutheran Church
415 Johnson Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Service Schedule
Visitation
2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Friday June 16, 2017
Clayton Stevenson Chapel
102 Custer Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Funeral Service
1:30 p.m.
Saturday June 17, 2017
First Lutheran Church
415 Johnson Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Deb H says
I can remember Ella and Marbie forever-brandings, playing cards, etc. She was a great support to Mom after she was diagnosed and through her treatment. Rest in peace. Deb
Becky Tipton says
I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your Mom, I cleaned her room when she first came to the hospital,loved visiting with her. I saw her a few times after she moved to Extended Care she was pretty feisty, didn’t want to be there cuz she wasn’t old.
I’m sure she’s in Heaven being God’s right hand Angel! Cherish your memories and hold them close!
RIP Ella
Becky Tipton
Former Housekeeper at GMC
Katie Hansen says
Ella was a very kind lady. I remember her from when I was a child. She was good friends with my grandmother Gert Jensen here in Wolf Point. May she rest in peace and enjoy playing cards again with grandma.
Alice Brittian says
I sure enjoyed getting to know Ella. We had some good visits when I would help her before she went to the nursing home. When I visited her at Extended Care, she always asked if I was behaving myself and we both agreed that we did not have to! My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Sue (Watterson) Johnson says
Ella was a kind, generous, and loving person. She must have given away hundreds of “angel pins” over the years. Her banana bread was a real treat! I knew her from church but got to know her even better while I worked at the Library….she often had some strong words about books she had recently read. LOL I worked at the Stampede Ticket Booth several summers—she would regularly bring lunch for me and whoever else was at the booth that day. In her last years in Wolf Point, I had the opportunity to take her to Glendive to see an old friend who had been a co-worker when Ella was a nurse. On another occasion I took her to Epping for a lunch with the “girls” she had been confirmed with. It was an extra special outing. I brought along a newspaper to busy myself while they visited—I do admit to “eaves dropping” as they shared their JOY of being together again. I offered to do the dishes and discovered that the hostess had no running water. When I said “Why didn’t you use paper plates? She gave me “the look” and remarked that paper wouldn’t do for Ella and the others”. I loved that moment alot. Ella was a spunky gal—you always knew where you stood with her—-I have surely missed her in the years she has lived away from Wolf Point. Bless the memory of Ella Hanson. Sue Watterson Johnson
Linda Hoversland says
Ella will always hold a special place in my heart as she was a great friend to my Mom throughout the years and when Mom got sick, Ella was always there to let her know she cared and after her visits Mom would always have some fun thing to tell us that the two of them had done together. I am very thankful that she was a part of our lives.