Janice Elaine Hanson, 84

Janice Elaine Hanson, 84, of Hallock, Minn., died Oct. 12, 2020, at the Kittson Healthcare Nursing Home.
Janice was born March 12, 1936, to Searl and Mabel (Norberg) Peterson in Bismarck, N.D. She grew up on the family farm near Washburn, N.D. She was baptized, attended Sunday School and was confirmed at Birka Lutheran Church, rural Washburn. She attended Weller Township school until the middle of her eighth grade year. The winter was so bad that she moved in with her grandmother and aunt in Washburn to attend school. She graduated from Washburn High School and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in social work from Gustavus Adolphus College.
She was working as a social worker in Glencoe, Minn., when she met Cyrus Hanson after being set up on a blind date. They were married on an unseasonably warm day at Birka Lutheran Church Oct. 20, 1962. They moved to Cyrus’s family farm in South Red River Township where she worked at the Kittson County Welfare Office and Lutheran Brotherhood, both in Hallock, and eventually the Northwest Mental Health Center, Crookston.
Janice and Cyrus had three children, Ruth Marjorie, Todd Marshall and Louise Mae. She and Cyrus felt the calling to keep their home filled with many foster children over the years. She was actively involved in the farm when her children were young as well as volunteering with their activities, including 4-H, school and Sunday school. She attended many county fairs, horse shows, concerts, programs and sporting events. She served on the Hallock School Board for over a decade and was passionate about education.
Her church, and church family, were very important to her. She was active in Red River Lutheran Church and served many years as their financial secretary and with the Sunday school program.
In her later years, she attended weekly Bible study at Grace Lutheran Church and looked forward to sharing her knowledge, and spirted discussions, with the friends she made there. She was a kind, nurturing woman with many talents and hobbies, which included learning how to paint using the traditional Norwegian style, Rosemaling, and attended various craft shows. She also sewed, cross-stitched, quilted, embroidered and loved puzzles, Suduko and voraciously reading books and studying her Bible. She was a wonderful cook and baker, and was well known for her buns and butter horns.
Janice’s friends were also very important to her, and she loved entertaining them for coffee parties.
Janice’s children and grandchildren were the light of her life and she always made an effort, even when her mobility became difficult, to attend their activities and be a part of family gatherings.
She and Cyrus built a new home in Hallock in 2005. Sadly, Cyrus passed away in 2007. Janice valiantly struggled with her health for many years and finally moved into the River’s Edge Assisted Living in 2017. She loved her apartment and the many friends she made there and in the nursing home.
Janice is survived by her sister, Sharyn (Scott) Calton, Prescott, Wis.; sister-in-law, JoAnn Hanson, Hallock, Minn.; three children: Ruth (Barry) Scheresky, Des Lacs, N.D., Todd (Andi) Hanson, Calder, Idaho, and Louise (Dan) Money, Hallock; her grandchildren, Kara, Jacob and David Scheresky, Marcella (Dylan) Bowman, Meredith and Craig Money, Mark and Megan Emerson, Myles and Erin Hanson; and great-grandchildren Kendall, Kinleigh, Dax and Violet; as well as many special nieces and nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Cyrus as well as her brothers-in-law and a sister-in-law.
A worship service for the celebration of Janice’s life will be held Friday, Oct. 30, 2 p.m., at Red River Lutheran Church, rural Kennedy, with interment to follow. COVID guidelines will be followed, masks will be required.
Austin Funeral Home, Hallock, is in charge of arrangements. www.austinfuneralchapel.com.