Grace Jewell Hansen, 94, Valley City, ND, passed away peacefully at Mercy Hospital on October 19, 2023, surrounded by family. A celebration of Grace’s life will be held on November 2, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Valley City at 11:00 AM.
There will be a viewing beginning at 10:00. She will be laid to rest at Memory Gardens, Valley City. The Lerud Mathias Funeral Home in Valley City is assisting with arrangements. The service will be live-streamed, then archived, on a link provided along with her obituary on her tribute page at www.lerudmathias.com. An online guestbook is available there as well.
Grace Jewell (Haarsager) Hansen, the daughter of Martin and Helen (Kaping) Haarsager, was born on January 6, 1929, at Mercy Hospital in Valley City, ND. She was raised on the Haarsager homestead in LaMoure County, where she attended Gladstone Elementary School. Grace continued her high school education in Litchville, ND.
On January 25, 1947, she married Gordon Hansen. They lived on the original Hansen family
farm west of Litchville until moving to Valley City in 1959. Gordon and Grace became parents
to 7 children: Karen, Daryl, Terry, Steven, Kathleen, Connie, and Cindy.
Grace was a homemaker and enjoyed volunteering at various school and community activities. She started working when her children became older. She was a salesclerk at The Fair Store for
several years. Through the years, Grace enjoyed many areas of employment, from hostessing at
the Eagles Club to bank teller and church secretary. She received an award of commendation for
many years of dedicated service from the Eagles Club.
Her hobbies and activities include supervising Faith in Action volunteers, making quilts at
church, volunteering at the hospital gift store, and delivering meals on wheels. The card game of
pinochle was a favorite when she could challenge her grandsons.
Grace loved to entertain. Her hospitality was open to all. She always had something sweet to
offer with coffee. She loved to host large family holiday meals.
Grace is survived by her children, Karen (Gary) DeBoer of Crosby, MN, Terry (Pam) Hansen of
Jamestown, ND, Kathleen (Tom) O’Flanagan of Cameron, WI, Connie Hansen of Jamestown,
Cindy (Ryan) Wendel of Valley City; 16 grandchildren, Tamara Anderson, Tricia (Reed) Varner,
Tyler (Crystal) Anderson, Brandon (Megan) Hansen, Brooks Hansen, Derek (Angela) Hansen,
Brian (Brittney) Hansen, Jason Hansen, Erin (Cody) Wooldridge, Brooke O’Flanagan, Ellie
(John) Lehman, Ashley Ihry, Jordon (Heather) Thomsen, Ryan Thomsen, Luke Wendel, Brody
Wendel; 15 great grandchildren, Davis Varner, Drayden Hansen, Hailey Hansen, Addison
Hansen, Harper Hansen, Dakota Hansen, Hunter Hansen, Mackenzie Hansen, Riley Hansen,
Hayden Hansen, Graysen Hansen, Finley Wooldridge, Graham Wooldridge, Dillan Wooldridge
and Henrik Anderson; a great great grandson, Kohen Hansen; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Dale Haarsager and Richard Haarsager; sons,
Daryl Hansen and Steven Hansen; a son-in-law, Scott Anderson; and spouse, Gordon Hansen.
Grace navigated each day with a mix of stubborn and sweet. These characteristics manifested
themselves after she became a resident at “The Cottage” in Valley City. The family wishes to extend a huge appreciation to the staff at the cottage for allowing Grace the dignity to be herself
and for opening a whole new world of possibilities. Their positive impact and hospital visits
remain forever in our hearts.