Viola Hanson

Viola (Vi) Hanson, 90, of West. St. Paul and formerly of Newport, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, Aug. 1.
Vi was born on Aug. 29, 1920 in Geise, MN, the daughter of Richard and Martha Krueger and was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church on Sept. 18, 1920.
Vi grew up in Geise where she attended grade school and at age 9 moved to Mora with her brothers, mom and second husband, William Kump. Another sister and brother were born there.
When she was 17 she moved to southwest Minneapolis where she was employed as a housemaid and met Sigfred Olson. They were married in 1939 and moved to a farm in Bruno, where they had two sons, Richard and Victor, and then in 1945 to a farm in Mora where another son, Gerald, was born.
After these years of struggling to make a living in farming, the family in 1950 moved to Newport in suburban St. Paul. Vi worked at the Golden Rule for 16 years while her children were growing up, so she was a full-time employee and a full-time homemaker in a home that was originally without running water. But her and Sig's hard work paid off, the house grew in size and conveniences and they even became lake cabin owners on Spider Lake in Nevis, MN. After the Golden Rule, Vi worked at Miller-United Hospital for 18 years until she retired after supervising the cashier's-business office.
Both Sig and Gerald died in 1979, leaving her a widow after 39 years of marriage and a grieving mother at age 58.
In the years following, she and a neighboring widower who also attended Newport Lutheran, Victor Hanson, became close friends and married in 1984. Together they counted eight children between them and and lots of grandchildren. They lived in two new homes in Newport, traveled about the country to see the sights and their children and grandchildren, shopped for antiques, ate out a lot and, for several years, shared their home with Vi's mom, Martha.
Eventually Vi and Vic moved to a town home in Inver Grove Heights, then a senior living apartment in West St. Paul. Vic died in 2008.
Vi was a very religious person who regularly attended services at Newport Lutheran and helped with both time and talents. She and Vic assisted and donated at the local food shelf generously, which prompted a recognition through WCCO radio's "Good Neighbor Award."
Vi loved to quilt and made sure that everyone of her children and grandchildren had a handmade quilt. She always remembered their birthdays and greeted each of their visits with an inviting smile, and always listened as they talked of their accomplishments, as well as their problems, long after they were grown adults, until her final days.
Vi made sure that her stepchildren were an important part of her family and brought them together from many parts of the country every other year since 1987, making it an important family tradition.
Her recipes for potato salad, fruit cake and caramel rolls will live on.
Vi was preceded in death by her parents Martha and Richard Krueger, first husband Sigfred, son Gerald, second husband Victor, and brothers William Kump and Victor Krueger.
She is survived by sons Richard (Jean) and Victor (Debora): daughter-in-law Sharon (Frank) Olson Gurney; stepchildren Lowell (Lindsay) Hanson, Larry (Bonnie) Hanson, Carol Hanson, Cheryl (Les) Irby and Jay (Liz) Hanson; sister Mardy Youngberg; brother Woodrow (Dixie); half-sister Shirley (Cal) Christenson; step-sister Esther (Duane) Grell; sister-in-law Roz Kump; 20 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild through her extended families; and special friends AnnaRae Triplett, Kathleen Kaufmann, Betty Wygant, Judy Beyer and Denise Schwartz.
Services will be held Saturday, Aug. 6 at Newport Lutheran Church, 900-15th St., Newport, and burial at Roselawn Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Kok Funeral Home, 7676 80th St., Cottage Grove, and one hour preceding services.
Pallbearers will be grandchildren David Olson, Michael Olson, Michelle Olson, John Olson; great-grandchildren RaeAnn Olson and Jens Olson-Kikuchi; and stepdaughters Cheryl Irby and Carol Hanson.
A coffee reception will follow the funeral service and lunch will be served after the burial service at the church.
Memorials are preferred to Newport Lutheran Church.