Mildred G. Hansen

NORFOLK -- Mildred G. Hansen, 92, of Norfolk died Friday, April 1, 2011, at the Madison House. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with burial at Prospect Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7:30 p.m. Monday at Stonacek Funeral Chapel with a 7:30 p.m. rosary. The Rev. Dan Andrews will officiate. Mildred Gertrude Hansen was born Sept. 3, 1918, at Tilden to Leo and Anna (Schinck) Rutjens. She was baptized and confirmed at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Tilden. Mildred attended Bunker Hill School, and her last two years of school were at St. Ludger's Academy in Creighton. She graduated in 1935, qualified to teach at the age of 16. Sadly, there were no teaching opportunities for such a young teacher, so she returned home and worked on the family farm. On April 26, 1938, Mildred married Edwin C. Hansen, a farmer in Tilden. They farmed for several years in the Tilden, Oakdale and Newman Grove area. During this time Mildred was a stay-at-home mom, raising their four children.In 1960, the family moved to Norfolk. Mildred worked at the Lutheran Community Hospital as a nurse's aide. During this time she also did some in-home nursing.\r\nLater, Mildred joined the staff at the Norfolk Regional Center and was certified as a psychiatric technician 2. She worked in men's admission until she retired in 1984. After retirement, Mildred kept busy with her family, grandchildren, cards, knitting and crocheting. Her love of gardening made her yard a show piece of beauty. Her quilts were a welcome sight to those who received them. She was a frequent volunteer at the local soup kitchen. She was a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Norfolk. Survivors include three children, son James and wife Berniece Hansen of Sioux Falls, S.D., daughter Janet and husband Marvin Carl of Manhattan, Kan., son Larry and wife Barbara Hansen of Norfolk; one brother, Leon and wife Henrietta Rutjens of Tilden; sister-in-law Catherine Hansen of Ocala, Fla.; five grandchildren, Margaret, Lynn, Jerry and wife Kristi, Shawn and Beth Ann; eight great-grandchildren, Damien, Danielle, Spencer, Ian, Zach, Erika, Carson, and Maddie; one stepgreat-grandchild, Bridget; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Edwin; daughter Joyce Hansen-Vessels; granddaughter Pamela Kay Hansen-Insinger; three half-brothers, Henry, Anthony and Leonard Zauner; three half-sisters, Sister Margaret Mary, Sister Angela and Eileen and husband Bill Brozek; son-in-law George Vessels; sister-in-law Marge Hansen; brother-in-law Elmer Hansen.\r\nCongregational hymns will be "Amazing Grace," "On Eagles Wings," "How Great Thou Art," "The Last Mile" and "The Prayer to Saint Frances." Pallbearers will be Lynn Hansen, Jerry Hansen, Shawn Vessels, Margaret Parks, Beth Ann Broderson, Steve Rutjens. Honorary pallbearers will be Damien Parks, Zach Hansen, Carson Becker, Don Rutjens, Tom Rutjens, Jerry Rutjens, LeRoy Rahade, Wendell Reese, Robert Paulson, John Varner, neices and nephews.

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Mildred G. Hansen

September 3, 1918 - April 1, 2011