Ruth Maxine Hansen

Ruth Maxine Hansen, the daughter of William and Theo (Young) Udo, was born December 16, 1924, at her parents’ farm home near Atlantic, Iowa, and passed away on July 8, 2020 at the Olympic Memorial Hospital in Port Angeles, Washington, at the age of 95 years, 6 months, and 22 days.

Maxine was baptized in the Methodist Church in Atlantic. She was confirmed at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa in 1945. In rural Atlantic, she attended one-room country schools at Smith Lake, Gates, and District #9 then graduated from Atlantic High School with the Class of 1942.

During school, Maxine was active in 4-H from age 12 until she graduated. She took home economics during high school, where she learned to sew, cook, and home decorate. She helped her father with the outside farm work and enjoyed her pony. After graduation, Maxine began working at Rexall Pharmacy in Atlantic until her marriage to Harold Edmund Hansen on September 9, 1945, at the Methodist Church in Atlantic. Harold and Maxine were married for 60 years, and three children, Diane, Roger, and Kathy, were born to this union.

Harold and Maxine farmed three miles northeast of Exira from the time of their marriage until 1964, when they relocated 12 miles northeast of Audubon, near Viola in Audubon County. Maxine always helped with the outside duties and chores that came with farm life, even driving the tractor in the fields, along with milking cows, raising chickens, and growing a large garden. She also canned, cooked, and baked for her family. She enjoyed sewing clothes for her family and after retirement joined a quilting group. She made quilts for as many family members as she could until she lost her sight and was unable to continue.

In 1971, the couple moved to the Los Angeles, California area. While living in California, Maxine worked in fabric stores until they purchased "Kay Silver's Nutcorn" in Beverly Hills, which Maxine operated for 15 years. One year she promoted their Nutcorn business by riding down Rodeo Drive on an elephant in the Beverly Hills St. Patrick's Day Parade. Maxine served many stars, including President Ronald Reagan, with her tasty treats. Her grandchildren remember it as "Grandma's Candy Store."

Wherever Harold and Maxine lived they were active in their church. Maxine taught Sunday School and vacation Bible school, was active in Ladies Aide and Circle Bible Study, and helped with many special events. Maxine's faith was very important to her, and prayer was a daily activity in their household.

They lived in California for 22 years, and following retirement they returned to Audubon and purchased a home on Pacific Avenue. After Harold passed away in 2005, Maxine moved in 2007 to Wedgewood Retirement Center in Branson, Missouri, to be near her daughter, Diane and her husband, Don Wagner, who watched over her for many years. After the death of her daughter, Diane, in February 2018, Maxine, at age 93 years, relocated to Laurel Place, an assisted living center near her granddaughter Tammy Harris and family in Port Angeles, Washington.

Maxine will be remembered for her faith, perseverance, kindness, patience, peacefulness, love of family, and her main desire for others to know Jesus as their personal Savior.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Harold; her parents; her daughter, Diane Kay Wagner; her grandson, Kirk Jason Wagner; her sister, Dorothy and husband Charles Thurman; her brother-in-law, Howard and wife Louise Hansen, their daughter Phyllis, and her daughter Jessica Keech.

Survivors include her children: Roger and wife Mary Hansen of Grants Pass, Oregon; Kathy and husband Greg Petersen of Tampa, Florida; her son-in-law of 50 years, Don Wagner of Kimberling City, Missouri; her grandchildren: Kristy and husband Korey Huerter of Pella, Iowa; Dr. Kate Wagner and husband Dr. Aaron Judd of Cape Coral, Florida; Chad and wife Ce Ce Hansen and Mandy and husband Danny York, all of Grants Pass; Brent and wife Melanie Hansen of St. Charles, Illinois; Michael and wife Terri Smith of Tucson, Arizona; Rob Miller of Houston, Texas; and Tammy and husband Daniel Harris of Port Angeles, Washington; her great-grandchildren: Emma and Mason Huerter of Pella; Ainsley Maxine and Kirk Judd of Cape Coral; Austin and wife Cynthia Hansen of Prineville, Oregon; Morgan and husband Taylor Bars and Rilyn and husband Coleman Davis, all of Grants Pass; Duke, Walker and Tanner York of Grants Pass; Coburn and wife Allison York of Klamath Falls, Oregon; Marcus, Joshua, Derek, Adelyn, and Everly Hansen of St. Charles; Chelsea and husband Bobby Bourbeau, Sydney and husband Gabe Encinas, Noah and wife Karen Smith, and Shelby Smith, all of Tucson, Arizona; Tyler and Shyla Miller of Grand Junction, Colorado; and Zade and Zoie Harris of Port Angeles, Washington; and her great-great-grandchildren: Nolan Hansen of Prineville; Rowyn Bars of Grants Pass; and Parker and Elliot Encinas of Tucson; as well as many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

The family will greet friends on Friday, July 17, 2020 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon. Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers will be Kirk Wagner, Brent Hansen, Chad Hansen, Rob Miller, and Mike Smith. Casket bearers will be Roger Hansen, Don Wagner, Larry Thurman, Delbert Thurman, Korey Huerter, and Mason Huerter. Memorials will be sent to the Ingham Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp Quilt Auction or may be directed to Our Saviour's Lutheran Church (326 Leroy St, Audubon, Iowa 50025).

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