Lorraine Ardelle Hansen Knudson

Lorraine Ardelle Hansen Knudson, the daughter of Arthur L. and Esther M. (Petersen) Stofferson, was born January 14, 1927, at her parents’ home in rural Shelby County east of Harlan , Iowa and died July 31, 2018, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 91 years, 6 months, and 17 days.
Lorraine was baptized at the Bethel Baptist Church in Harlan, Iowa. She attended Rabbit Hollow Country School from 1934-1936, then the Kirkman School from 1936-1943, and graduated from the Harlan High School with the Class of 1945. Following High School Lorraine was employed as a secretary with the Rural Electric Co-Op in Harlan.
On June 15, 1947, she was united in marriage to Lyle Harold Hansen, Sr. at the Bethel Baptist Church in Harlan. They were blessed with three children Lyle, Jr., Lynette, and Lisa. They lived in Harlan for a short time before moving to Audubon, Iowa in 1948. Lorraine was a home maker for many years helping Lyle, Sr. operate their farm and raising the children. When the children were older she became the Society Editor for the Audubon News Advocate. Lyle, Sr. died June 24, 1974. Lorraine continued as the Society Editor working for over 20 years before she retired.
On May 7, 1994, she married Melvin Knudson at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Melvin later died in 2017. In May of 2017, Lorraine moved to assisted living at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa.
Lorraine was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon for over 70 years and was a member of the New Hope Village Family Association. She was a Co-Team member of the Audubon Chamber of Commerce’s welcome wagon for several years and a Cub Scout Den Mother. Lorraine had a beautiful voice and sang for many weddings and funerals, as well as being a member of the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church Choir. She was an avid reader and enjoyed embroidering. But most of all she enjoyed being with her family especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Preceding her in death was her husband Lyle H. Hansen, Sr.; her parents; her brother Dale Stofferson; her sister Enid and husband Robert Smith, her father-in-law and mother-in-law Hans J. and Edith (Anderson) Hansen; her nephews Terry Stofferson and Donald Smith and her brother-in-law Robert Groteluschen.
Survivors include her children Lyle H. Hansen, Jr. and wife Paula of Audubon, Iowa, Lynette and husband Dr. Jon Allison of Johnston, Iowa, and Lisa Hansen of the New Hope Village in Carroll, Iowa; her grandchildren Lyle (Chip) H. Hansen, III of Atlantic, Iowa, Carrie Hansen of Audubon, Iowa, Erik and wife Rebecca Allison of Johnston, Iowa, and Brian and wife Megan Allison of Norwalk, Iowa; her great grandchildren Anna and Luke Allison of Johnston, Iowa; her sisters-in-law Dorothy Groteluschen of Fort Dodge, Iowa and Alma Stofferson of Omaha, Nebraska; her nieces and nephews Roger and wife Rose Groteluschen of Marshalltown, Iowa, Janelle Groteluschen and Jon and wife Jane Groteluschen all of Fort Dodge, Iowa, Linda and husband Scott James and Leslie and husband Mike Brady all of Omaha, Nebraska, Barb and husband Arne McDaniel of Littleton, Colorado, Robert Stofferson of Washington, D.C., and Laura Stofferson of Glenwood, Iowa; other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Doug Opp on Monday, August 6, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. The honorary casket bearers will be Diana Deist and Jackie Wahlert. The casket bearers will be Erik Allison, Brian Allison, Lyle (Chip) H. Hansen, III, Carrie Hansen, Roger Groteluschen, Jon Groteluschen, and Robert Stofferson. The family will meet with friends Monday morning, August 6, 2018, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. The family prefers memorials to New Hope Village in Carroll, Iowa or to Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon.