Louise Elizabeth (Paxton Wadsworth) Hansen of White Lake, Mich., died peacefully Sept. 4, 2008, at the age of 96.
Louise enjoyed a long and rich life, dedicating herself to her family, church and community. She was blessed with a spirited sense of humor and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, playing cards and bingo. She was active in her church throughout her lifetime, and she used her creative talents to contribute regularly to charities, making quilts with the sewing circle and donating hand-knit afghans and other needlepoint crafts.
She was born in Mason City, Iowa, on Oct. 9, 1911, to Benjamin Franklin William Paxton and Mary Ann Wadsworth. She was adopted by her mother’s sister Agnes Rebbecca Mae Wadsworth following her mother’s death April 25, 1914.
Louise was married to Clarence William Hansen in 1938 in South Dakota. After moving from the family farm south of Albert Lea to the city, Louise worked as a waitress at Paul’s Café and the Canton Café. She also worked at Montgomery Ward in Albert Lea where she retired as a bookkeeper in 1976. She was an active member of the American War Dads Auxiliary, the First Lutheran Church of Albert Lea, and member of the Albert Lea Chapter of the Eastern Star. She was an election judge for the city of Albert Lea, worked in the Senior Volunteer Program of Albert Lea, and volunteered at the Freeborn County History Museum. After moving to Michigan, she became an active member of the Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Waterford, Mich.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her adopted mother, her four brothers and two sisters, her husband Clarence, her son Larry John Eugene, her daughters Ardys Ann (Marvin) Fuller and Clarine Lucille (Warren) Davis, and her grandson Glenn Allen Torgerson.
She is survived by her daughter Shirley Marie Torgerson and husband Claire, her son Rollin James Hansen and wife Mckenzie; grandchildren Scott, Kipp and Terry Fuller, Retith and Warren Davis, Sheryl (Torgerson) Dalton, Susan Torgerson, Sandra (Torgerson) Bliss and husband Tommie, Sarah (Torgerson) Stalmack and husband Brett, and Stacy Torgerson, Michael Hansen and wife Kelly, and Malkara (Hansen) Elkins and husband David; great-grandchildren Trevor Dalton, Nichole, Tony, Ashley and Cheyenne Fuller, Alicia Torgerson, Halee and Hanna Stalmack, and Bailey Larkin Hansen.
In lieu of flowers the family is requesting that donations be made to their favorite charity.
Viewing will be one hour prior to the funeral service at Bonnerup Funeral Home in Albert Lea on Tuesday at 1 p.m. with the burial following at Greenwood Cemetery in Glenville. A memorial service will also be held in Waterford, Mich., at a later date.