Alice Lorraine Romer Hanson, aged 96, of Stoughton, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022. She was born on May 11, 1926, in Osakis, Minnesota, to Vita (Kjøller) and Einer Romer. She had one sister, Mildred Romer Carlsen. After graduating from high school, she attended Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, her parents' alma mater. There she sang in the Dana Choir and was elected homecoming queen. She earned her teaching degree and certificate and taught 4th grade and 1st-2nd grades before and after marriage. She was also a substitute teacher and taught "basic skills" (mostly reading and math). Alice and 10 other good friends from college wrote snail mail letters to one another in a “round robin” they created together for keeping in touch. This “round robin” persisted for more than 50 years. Her FRIENDS were very important to her.
Alice and Norlan Hanson were married on Aug. 14, 1951. They had three children, David, Steven and Joy. Alice was independent. For example, she took herself to the city alone, by bus, to choose and purchase her beautiful wedding dress. She taught herself to bake apple pie from the Joy of Cooking, and her husband, Norlan, taught her to drive after they were married. Alice was a hard worker, loving, kind, smart, forgiving, fun, loyal and always growing. She loved being a pastor’s wife. She sang in the church choir and taught Vacation Bible School and Sunday School (serving as superintendent for many years). She was active in the Women of the Church (serving as president for two years), and often led Bible studies at monthly circle meetings.
Alice was an attentive and loving wife and mother all the years of her life. She was an avid reader, and she created countless beautiful counted cross stitch pieces for all of us to enjoy. When her children were living at home, the family had great fun on camping trips, especially on the beautiful west coast, in addition to yearly trips back to the midwest to visit family. She loved her husband, her children, her grandchildren, her great grandchildren, and other relatives with her whole heart. She and Norlan raised their family in Owatonna, Minnesota; Aurora, Colorado; Simi, Calififornia; and San Diego, California. In 1998, they moved to Oregon, Wisconsin. Alice and Norlan did some other traveling, starting with a four-week 25th Anniversary trip to Europe, and, after retirement, to various parts of the United States as well as the Canadian Rockies.
Alice is survived by her children and their spouses: David and Charlotte Hanson, Steven Ristau Hanson and Josephine Hanson Ristau, Joy Alesdatter and Michele Hawley; grandchildren Phillip (Jamie), Kaitlyn (Nate), Corynn (Brock), Jessica, Julian and Alfred; great-grandchildren Freya, Lachlen, Harlow and Malina. She is preceded in death by Norlan Hanson, Vita and Einer Romer, Mildred and Stan Carlsen, and one grandchild, Adrian Hanson.
A funeral service and burial will be at a later date. Memorials may be given to Bread for the World or First Presbyterian Church of Oregon, Wisconsin. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420
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