Barbara Elaine Hanson was born June 3, 1937, in Albert Lea, to Russell and Clara (Fibelstad) Esse. She was baptized at HaywardLutheran Church and attended grade school in Hayward. Barb moved to Albert Lea in 1948 where her parents owned Russell&8217;s Home Grocery. She was confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in 1951and she graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1955. In the fall of that year, Barb entered St. Olaf College in Northfield. She graduated from St. Olaf in 1959 with a degree in Parish Education and moved to Chicago to work as Youth Director at Edison Park Lutheran Church. On Dec. 27, 1960, she married Gary Hanson at Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. After marriage they lived in Minneapolis and Barb was youth director at Christ Lutheran Church in St. Paul. In 1967, they moved to Northfield and Barb stayed home with their sons Todd, Greg and Steve. In 1974, she became youth director at Bethel Lutheran Church. She remained as youth director at Bethel for 27 years, retiring in 2001.

Barb was an active member of Bethel Lutheran Church. She was always willing to put others first and her greatest joy was her family and grandchildren. Her hobbies included traveling, flowers and plants.

Survivors include her husband of 46 years, Gary; 3 sons and their wives: Todd and Lisa of Andover, Greg and Cindy of Fridley, Steve and Michelle of Mapleton; 8 grandchildren: Thomas, Rebecca, Jonathan, Sarah, Peter, Chanen, Nathaniel and Bethany; her sister, Marilyn Porter of Appleton,Wisconsin; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Barbara passed away Sept. 8, 2007, at her home after a seven-month battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Northfield with the Rev. Tim McDermott officiating. Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery. Casket bearers will be Tom Hanson, Wayne Hanson, Terry Schlink, Jerry Swanson, Gil Lande, and Dick Abraham. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Bethel Lutheran Church with a service of sharing and remembrance beginning at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the funeral. Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home in Northfield.