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Mabel Hanson, 96, of Fargo, ND, passed away early Sunday morning December 30, 2012 at Elim Care Center in Fargo.
Mabel Edith Maloney was born to Wade and Ella (Frost) Maloney on September 7, 1916. She was raised and educated in Tower City, ND. Following high school, Mabel attended Dakota Business College in Fargo. While working at the courthouse, Mabel met Francis Hanson. They were married in Fargo and moved to the family farm in Tower City. Francis preceded her in death July 15, 1992, just one month prior to their 50th wedding anniversary. Mabel moved to Fargo after the loss of Francis. She enjoyed living in two apartments before moving to Waterford at Harwood Groves and then to assisted living. After breaking her hip in February 2004, she entered the nursing home. She was a resident of Elim Care Center since May of 2004.
Mabel was a very independent woman who loved to drive. It was not uncommon for her to put 35,000 miles on a car in a year! She often was taking a friend to an appointment and in her 70 years of driving, she never had an accident. She was also an avid reader and with the onset of macular degeneration, she had to give up both driving and her love of reading.
She served on the Tower City school board for many years. She also worked for a short time at the Tower View Café as a baker, while Don and Thelma Wilner owned the café in the early 1960s. The hourly wage then was 90 cents an hour, and she became famous for her delicious apple doughnuts. Mabel always put her children’s needs for orthodontic work, piano lessons and college ahead of her own wants. She had a LBD out of necessity before it became a mainstay in a woman’s wardrobe.
Mabel was a member of the Homemakers Club and also the Order of the Eastern Star where she was a 50-year member as well as past worthy matron. She belonged to both Ceres Chapter in Tower City and later Mecca Chapter in Fargo.
Mabel’s family would like to thank all the people who added so much to her life in Fargo. Sue and Tom VanOsdell always included her in their holiday dinners. Their daughter Kate was Mabel’s personal trainer at Great Shape. Jerry, Steve and Russ made Mabel’s meals at the Village Inn in Moorhead special and honored her as their VIP for their Grand Opening on April 6, 2003 with a limousine ride. Sam Eukel and the Sensibly Thin Group spent many luncheons together. Julie Sorby helped her with her personal business. Pastor Norm and the staff at Elim made her nine years at Elim the best possible.
Surviving Mabel are her children: Patricia (Clarke) Vestal, Denver, CO, Bruce (Shawn) Hanson, Marietta, GA, Jeanne (Dean) Lang, Sidney, MT, Neil Hanson, Buffalo, ND; grandchildren; Daniel Vestal, Denver, CO, Dana Vestal, Golden, CO, Kristin Hanson, Atlanta, GA, Brittany Lang, Santa Monica, CA, Michael Lang, Ogden, UT, Matthew Lang, Sidney, MT; sister-in-law, Esther (Ralph) Swanson, Las Vegas, NV and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband Francis, daughter Gail, brother Denis, twin sisters Ruth and Jean, and all of her dear friends that she outlived.
In honoring Mabel’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a private interment will be held at a later date. Mabel would want all her children and grandchildren to be together to celebrate her life, so that celebration will be scheduled in the near future at Elim Care Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tower City Presbyterian Church or the charity of your choice. An online guest register is available at lerudschuldt.com