Violet Arbutus Hanson

Violet Hanson, 98, of Evansville passed away Friday, July 19, 2024, at the Evansville Care Center.

Violet Arbutus Ellingson was born at 5 PM on January 16,1926, to George and Clara (Olson) Ellingson in Erdahl Township. 

Growing up, Violet was an excellent student. One year while attending country school she completed two grades at the same time. In later years she sang solos and was a member of the Clean Plate Club. She was very proud of being Valedictorian of her senior class which graduated from Evansville High School in 1943.

Violet married James Oscar Hanson on May 26, 1945, in the Erdahl Lutheran Church. They spent many happy years living on a farm two miles southeast of Erdahl. Violet was a devoted wife and dedicated mother. With the passage of time, she enjoyed the role of doting grandmother, then great-grandmother. Violet loved life on the farm because she just loved babies. Especially baby dogs, cats, cows and horses. And of course, she loved baby children. Violet loved to hold them and talk to them with her gentle soothing voice. Young mothers would come to her for child rearing advice.

Violet always had a strong religious faith. For many years, this included attending church services at Erdahl Lutheran, where she was an active member of the Ladies Aid and taught Sunday School classes. More recently she joined Faith Lutheran Church in Evansville, viewing the services in person or on cable.

Violet always had a fantastic garden on the farm. She raised fruits and vegetables, and with this she was a baker, canner, and was known for her homemade pancake mix. She also tended beautiful flower gardens and her favorite was the carnation. She continued this love of flowers when Jimmy built their retirement home in Evansville in 1987. 

Violet and Jimmy were constantly attending local school events. They attended all their children's sporting contests including football, wrestling, basketball and baseball. This carried on with their grandchildren. They also attended other extra-curricular activities like band and choir concerts, class plays, PTA and FFA.

Violet and Jimmy liked to travel. Highlights include trips to Hawaii, Norway, Texas, California, Washington DC, Niagara Falls and Mackinac Island. For years she accompanied Jimmy on deer hunting trips to Montana with a close circle of friends. They spent the winter months in Mesa, AZ for thirty-five years. Here they engaged in two of their favorite activities, playing cards and square dancing.

Violet was preceded in death by her parents George and Clara Ellingson, her husband James Oscar Hanson, two childhood brothers, Carmen Gilman and George Clifton, her infant daughter Joan Carolyn, her oldest son Jerald Owen and his wife Donna (Novak), and fourth son Donald James, and Violet’s grandson Dallas Glen Hanson. Violet is survived by her loving and devoted daughter Joyce Hanson, and by her sons Neil (Elaine Mortensen), Gene (Darla Christenson), Robert, and Daryl (Pam Muchow); a daughter-in-law, Charlotte Peters Hanson. By her brother Arlie (LouAnn Strehlo) Ellingson, and by ten grandchildren, and by twenty-three great-grandchildren, and finally, her special friend David Schuman.

Funeral Service: 2:00 PM, Friday, July 26, 2024, at Faith Lutheran Church in Evansville with visitation one hour prior to the service.

Clergy: Reverend Bradley Pearson

Interment: Erdahl Cemetery, rural Elbow Lake.

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson of Evansville.

Condolences: www.GlendeNilson.Com