Bernice Hanson

Bernice Serena Hanson,

105, of Crosby, ND, form-

erly of Ambrose, ND,

passed away June 27,

2019 at St. Luke’s Hospi-

tal in Crosby. Funeral ser-

vices will be held Mon-

day, July 8, 2019 at 11:00

AM at Ambrose Lutheran

Church in Ambrose. Buri-

al will follow at Ambrose

Cemetery. Visitation will

be on Sunday, July 7,

2019 at Stakston-Martin

Funeral Home from 4:00

to 6:00 PM.

Bernice was born Janu-

ary 16, 1914 to Sam and

Mary Knutson in Mt. Ver-

non, SD. She was bap-

tized into the Lutheran

faith. In 1915, Bernice

moved with her parents to

a farm near Ambrose. She

began her education at the

age of 5 at the Blooming

Prairie Country School.

Because she was so

young, she often took a

nap on her teacher’s lap.

She graduated from Am-

brose High School in

1932.

Bernice married Everett

Hanson, October 20, 1935,

and they lived in Am-

brose until moving to a

farm east of Ambrose,

which they later pur-

chased. During the

depression, they had

financial difficulties and

would have to scrape to-

gether 10 pennies, so they

could attend the local

dances. Bernice and

Everett loved to dance

and dancing became a sig-

nificant part of their so-

cial life. As times im-

proved, their farming and

ranching became success-ful, and they were able to

travel and also support

many worthy causes dur-

ing their 74 years togeth-

er. They raised two chil-

dren: Marlyn Marschner

of Voltaire, ND and Leslie

Dale of Bullhead City, AZ.

They also opened their

home to a foster son, Ran-

dy Melle of AZ.

Bernice was a devoted

farm wife and loving

mother whose family al-

ways came first in her life.

She took great pride in the

achievements of her chil-

dren, grandchildren, and

great-grandchildren both

in academics and sports.

She always said, “I am not

going to a warmer climate

during winter because I

don’t want to miss the

sporting events of my

great and grandchildren.”

She was still attending

their basketball games at

the age of 105.

Bernice was involved in

the Ambrose Lutheran

Church where she was ac-

tive as President of Ladies

Aid and Sunday School

and sang in the choir.

Bernice was famous for

her culinary arts and

loved to entertain the

Hanson clan for holidays.

She was especially known

for her delicious apple

pies and Boston baked be-

ans. The many hired men

she served meals to al-

ways appreciated her ef-

forts and in later years

would tell how they

remembered sitting at her

table and enjoying her

wonderful cooking.

In February 2009,

Everett became a patient

at St. Luke’s Hospital, and

Bernice moved from the

farm to Northern Lights

Villa and remained there

for ten years until her

death. She loved the care-

takers and made very

close friendships with the

residents. Our mother

often commented on how

blessed she was to have so

many good friends at the

villa and in the communi-ty. This was attested by

the large gatherings at

each of her 10 birthday

parties celebrated at the

villa from age 95 to 105.

Bernice is survived by:

her two children: Marlyn

(Richard) Marschner, Vol-

taire, ND; Leslie (Leanne)

Hanson, Bullhead City,

AZ; two grandchildren:

Joel Wigginton, Ambrose,

ND; Jeffery Hanson, Bull-

head City, AZ; six

great-grandchildren: Carly

(Joseph) Juetten, Downers

Grove, IL; Derek (Whit-

ney) Benter, Taylor and

Courtney Wigginton,

Bismarck, ND; Nichole

(Bruce) Anaya and Jen-

nifer Hanson, San Diego,

CA; four

great-great-grandchildren:

Giuliana, Connor, and

Grey Juetten; Rhys Benter;

and many loving nieces

and nephews.

Bernice was preceded

in death by: her parents;

two brothers: Ordean and

Dale; husband, Everett;

cherished granddaughter,

Debbie Benter;

brothers-in-law: Eldon,

Harold, Ronald, Arden

(Babe) Hanson;

sisters-in-law: June, Met-

ta, Chris, Marie Hanson,

Lucille Johnson;

son-in-law Arnold Wig-

ginton.

Memorials may be

given to the Debbie Wig-

ginton Benter Scholarship

Fund through the Divide

County Area Dollars for

Scholars.

Stakston-Martin Fun-

eral Home is in charge of

arrangements.