Norma Ellen Hansen

Norma Ellen Hansen the daughter of Helmuth and Ethel (Covault) Larsen was born November 29, 1931, in rural Audubon County, Iowa, and died October 17, 2018, at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa at the age of 86 years, 10 months, and 17 days.
Norma was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, where she was baptized and confirmed. She attended schools in Audubon County and graduated from Audubon High School in 1950. After high school, she worked at First State Bank in Audubon.
She married Wayne D. Hansen on February 24, 1952 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. Wayne and Norma began their 40-plus year farming operation in Audubon County, first in Cameron Township and later in Lincoln Township. Their marriage was blessed with six children and Norma was very busy with cooking and baking for her family, sewing clothes for her daughters, and gardening, canning and freezing produce. She kept books for the farm and would often run to Audubon for parts or feed or livestock medicine - whatever was needed to keep things going. She also made many trips to Audubon, Manning and Carroll to take her children to piano, band, and swimming lessons.
Norma was active in the Cameron Country Club and valued the life-long friendships she made there. She served as a 4-H leader for the Cameron Future Homemakers, and taught cooking classes with neighbor Lorene Klever. Her family favorites were her cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, Danish Kringle, and chicken and noodles. She was active in women’s circle at Our Saviour’s, served on the altar guild, and taught Sunday school and Bible School.
Talented in the needle arts (including needlepoint, knitting, and cross-stitch), Norma eventually became an expert quilter. Her love of quilting led her to begin teaching classes in 1990, and she continued to cultivate lasting friendships with every class. She was also invited to make presentations about quilting to many local organizations. Norma was passionate about hand-quilting and the majority of her quilts were hand quilted by her or by her quilting friends. Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren received quilts, as well as wall hangings, table runners, Christmas tree skirts, and Christmas ornaments.
A devoted grandmother, Norma relished spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and held every new baby close to her heart. She hosted tea parties and made her infamous macaroni & cheese with her little ones, beginning a beloved tradition. She loved attending their concerts, dance recitals, and sporting events.
Norma and Wayne liked to travel and her favorite trips involved visiting family, lighthouses, or quilting shops. They also enjoyed spending winters in South Padre Island during their retirement. After moving to Denison, Norma enjoyed visits from her children and grandchildren, and special tea parties with her sister Sharlene.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne; her parents; her brothers Harry Larsen and Burl (Bucky) Larsen, and her sister Amy Christensen.
She is survived by her children, Randy Hansen and wife Alix Korey of Palm Springs, California Sherry Robbs and husband Rick of Denison, Iowa, Hugh Hansen and wife Lori of Pacific Junction, Iowa, Karla Kauffman of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ann Hansen of New York City, New York, and Patti Bekkerus of Denison, Iowa; her grandchildren, April (Baron) Stare, Scott Vorm, Emily (Jon) Sell, Nikki Hansen, Carrie (Dustin) Champlin, Megan Bachman, Amanda Bachman, Kris (Kate) Kauffman, Colin Towne, Peter Bekkerus, Paula Bekkerus and Parker Bekkerus; fourteen great grandchildren; sister Sharlene Merk of Audubon, Iowa and brother-in-law Larry Hansen of Atlanta, Georgia; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.
The family will meet with friends on Sunday afternoon, October 21, 2018, from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Ben Unseth on Monday afternoon, October 22, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. The casket bearers will be her grandchildren Peter Bekkerus, Paula Bekkerus, Parker Bekkerus, April Stare, Scott Vorm, Emily Sell, Nikki Hansen, Carrie Champlin, Amanda Bachman, Megan Bachman, Trey Hansen, Kris Kauffman, and Colin Towne. Memorials are preferred to Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church altar guild or to support the arts at Audubon or Denison Community Schools.