Obituary of Valerie Hanson

BIOGRAPHY HANSON ~ Valerie Hanson passed away peacefully at the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre, Lloydminster, Alberta on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at the age of 91 years. The funeral service for Valerie was conducted from the Knox Presbyterian Church, Lloydminster, Alberta on Thursday, September 11m 2008 at 2:00 P.M. with Pastor Mark Breitkreuz officiating. A eulogy was given by Leah Fitzgerald. The hymns sung were "Bringing In The Sheaves" and "Amazing Grace" accompanied on the organ by Donna Weston. Honorary pallbearers were Heather Gardiner, Sherri Teasdale, Leah Fitzgerald, Melina Arthur, Candice Lakusta, Karrie Hanson and Tracy Teasdale. Active pallbearers were Kelly Gardiner, Lee Hanson, Talen Lakusta, Tye Lakusta, Cole Hanson, Travis Arthur and Tanner Daniels. Interment was held at the Lloydminster City Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster, Alberta administered the funeral arrangements. Eulogy of Valerie Hanson Grandma Valerie was born in 1917 in Haltwhistle, England, and came to Canada with her dad and mom, Joseph and Elizabeth Davidson, her brothers, Tom and Jim, and her sister, Molly, in 1929. Her youngest sister, Norma, was born later on in Canada. They landed in Halifax and moved westward, as so many did, and settled in Vanesta District, about 45 minutes southwest of Lloydminster. She took her schooling at Vanesta and Herbert schools, completing her grade eight. After that, she worked for other families until she met and married Bill Hanson in 1933. They made a home for themselves in the Earlie District further north, and that is where she spent the rest of her farming days. All five of their children grew up there, Donald William, Marlene Marie, Sharon Joan, Robert Bruce, and Lynn Carol. Over the years of working on the farm, Grandma tried her hand at many tasks. She milked cows, raised chickens, kept a big garden, and canned a multitude of vegetables, fruits and meats. She would sell cream and eggs, like many farm women, for a little extra cash. She enjoyed the cattle and had great patience at getting a stubborn calf to nurse. Often you'd see her at the end of a rope with a cow snubbed to a post for some reason or another. In the spring, Grandma would spend hours draining the runoff as the snow thawed. It was a great excuse to be outside and often a walk amongst the new baby calves accompanied this activity. Even with all the farm activities, Grandma always enjoyed a break if company came over or they went somewhere. In earlier years, Grandma Val and Grandpa Bill loved heading off to rodeos all over the countryside. Grandpa Bill competed and judged and Grandma was always a big fan. They met countless lifelong friends during those outings and always had a crowd join them for a picnic lunch. Grandma always enjoyed the animals on the farm, particularly the cattle and the hounds they raised. Over the years they raised every kind of farm animal you can think of. In 1968, Grandpa Bill passed away and Grandma was determined to stay on the farm and with the help of her kids, they developed a large cattle herd and even expanded the farm. Even though she raised a family through the lean years, her kids always had a gift at Christmas. It was amazing how creative she could be in preparing a feast with so little at times. There was always room for one more at the table. Grandma would sew, mend and knit creations for all her family and many grandkids benefitted by a good supply of mitts, toques, and scarves. Grandma also loved to read and write letters. She had beautiful penmanship and diction, and a great gift of remembering everybody's birthdays and sending them a card on time. One of her greatest pet peeves was receiving a card with a brief [To: Val, Love: so and so]. I'm sure many of you had received a Christmas card and original hand written letter. Every year she hung a string around her living room and anxiously awaited for the hundreds of cards she received. She penned countless diaries over the years-filling them with nuggets of important and interesting information. Grandma loved to feed the birds in the winter and delighted at the host of varieties that she could attract. Grandma loved her flowers and had many varieties in her garden and in her house. She had a real green thumb and could start and raise anything she tried to grow. She would go to visit her kids and promptly proclaim that their plants were "bone dry" and she'd head off for the watering can. One of Grandmas greatest delights was returning to her beloved England in 1975 to renew acquaintances with many family members. She made many trips back in later years, as well as a European tour with her sister Norma and several bus tours with to various destinations. In the mid eighties, Grandma moved to Lloyd. One of her greatest concerns was having a view from her window. On the farm she had a great view for miles out of her living room window. She really was an outdoor girl. Grandma loved to walk and she'd often walk the half mile west in the evening or a mile east to the mail box. After moving to town she loved to walk with friends around town and at Bud Miller Park. On her trips to England she would out walk most of those younger than her. Once living in Lloydminster, Grandma renewed her passion for dancing. She could easily dance five nights a week. She would attend many pot luck dinners with the many new friends she'd come to know. Grandma loved family reunions and having guests stay over at her place. Whether a short visit or a long stay she enjoyed company. If you blessed her by dropping by that was a gem in her day. Grandma loved and graciously babysat any of the grandkids anytime. She'd either pack her bag and stay over or keep them at her house. We all have numerous memories of the stories she invented or the rhymes she'd act out, such as, "Two Little Dickie Birds". That stumped a lot of us for many years. She always had an odd saying or two, like "put your toque on or you will get hydrophobia in your two back legs", or if we asked what was for supper she'd say "three mosquitoes fried in butter". The greatest game she played with the grandkids was "let's see who can be quietest the longest" and the winner was often rewarded with a piece of gum, candy or coin from her purse. Grandma loved to laugh and always enjoyed a good joke. She would often phone and share a joke that she had received in a letter or clipped out of a newspaper. Grandma was always adamant about honesty and manners with all her kids and grandkids. So many gifts of character she passed on to us. We are still discovering the wealth that all have gained from her. She really made the most of life without complaining and she really did see something beautiful in everything around her. We admire and love you from the depths of our hearts, and you will be forever missed. You are Gods gift to us…may God bless you and keep you. Valerie is survived by: Her Children: -Donald Hanson and his wife Sheila -Sharon and her husband Bill Teasdale -Bruce Hanson and his wife Edith -Lynn and her husband Owen Lakusta Twelve Grandchildren: -Kelly Gardiner and his wife Tracey -Heather Gardiner -Sherri Teasdale -Leah and her husband Brendan Fitzgerald -Tracy Teasdale -Lee Hanson -Melina and her husband Travis Arthur -Karrie Hanson -Cole Hanson -Candice Lakusta and her fiancé Tanner Daniels -Talen Lakusta and his fiancé Ebony Lysyshyn -Tye Lakusta Ten Great Grandchildren: -Devyn Gardiner -Taylor Gardiner -Nicole Gardiner-Way -Josh Gardiner-Way -Tanner Hamilton -Chase Hamilton -Kirsten Franks -Noah Fitzgerald -Callum Fitzgerald -Kevin Simoneau She was predeceased by: -Her husband, Alfred William Hanson -Her daughter, Marlene Marie Gardiner -Her brother, Tom Davidson -Her Sister, Molly Davidson - Her great-granddaughter - Avery Hamilton -And her parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Davidson. Leah M. Fitzgerald CARD OF THANKS Our family would like to express our sincere thanks to the McCaw Funeral Service family for their personal care and attention to detail that made Mom's service special to us. Thank you Pastor Mark Breitkreuz for your heartfelt words of strength and comfort. Thank you as well to Ken Kort for leading the hymns and to Donna Weston for your gift of music. Thank you to the Ladies of the Knox Presbyterian Church for the beautifully presented lunch after the service. A special thank you to Leah Fitzgerald (granddaughter of Valerie) for sharing the tribute of Mom's life. And a special thank you to all the bearers that were able to take part in the service and those whose presence was felt even though they could not attend. To all those who attended the service, visited; sent cards, flowers, fruit baskets, plants, brought meals over and offered prayers - we want to express how much all those gifts of heart helped us through those difficult days. Thank you for donations made in Mom's memory. Above all, thank you to all those who were a part of Mom's life - you were a gift to her while she was with us! Sincerely - All Of Valeries Family Donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation or to a charity of the donors choice.