Obituary of Helen Roscoe Hanson

Helen Hanson was truly an amazing woman in the way she lived her life as well as the way she left her place here on earth to join her family waiting for her in heaven. Helen passed very peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior on Tuesday evening, August 13, 2013 at the age of 88. She had been playing cards with dear friends when she suddenly suffered a stroke. She was blessed and comforted with family and friends at her side in Mason General Hospital in Shelton,WA at the time of her passing a few short hours later. Helen was born in Lamoure, North Dakota on November 22, 1924 to Gertrude (Fredrick) and Albert Edward Roscoe. She is survived by her 2 sons, Michael Hanson of Pekin, ND and Mark(Linnea) Hanson of Shelton, WA and 3 daughters, Ronnie Bradbury(Jim) of Toppenish, WA, Adele Lewis of Finley, WA and Laura Hanson of Seattle. She is also survived by her sister-in-laws Barbara Quinnan of Anchorage, Alaska and Linda Roscoe of Warden, WA. Helen felt very blessed to have had 8 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews. Helen was greatly admired and loved for her kind heart and respected for her strength and intelligence. She had the remarkable ability to see what a child needed and then provide that extra touch - She was an educator, a learner, always willing to discover something new. It is certain she is now smiling in wonder as she embarks on her greatest adventure. Her first 3 years of teaching were in various one room schoolhouses in Griggs County, North Dakota. The next 2 years were also in North Dakota one room schoolhouses in Nelson County. After she received her associate degree she spent a year teaching in Denhoff, North Dakota, 2 years in Lankin, North Dakota and 1 year in Hogeland, Montana. She went on to finish college at Valley City, North Dakota and then moved her family to Wapato, Washington where she taught for 23 years. She received her masters degree from Central Washington State College during the early 1960's. Helen took great delight last spring when she discovered a printing error on an IRS form. She proclaimed, " I know my back and legs don't function very well anymore but I guess I still have a few marbles upstairs." The staff at Maple Glen Senior Living in Shelton, are to be commended for their heartwarming and cheerful care of Helen the last month of her life. As an avid gardener, Helen so enjoyed the beautiful grounds surrounding the building there. Her last email shared with family was about dinner entertainment one evening when a Doe with 2 offspring showed up on the back lawn. Helen nostalgically commented that she could tell "they were looking in the dining room windows at us". Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Albin in 2008, her parents, brothers, Virgil, Willis and Arthur , grandson Michael Bradbury and son-in-law Joseph Lewis. Also her sister-in-laws Margaret Roscoe and Betty Roscoe. A celebration of her life and memorial service will be held at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 206 Wyandotte Ave, Shelton, WA at 2PM on Sunday, August 25, 2013. Memorials may be sent to Washington Chapter of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (please designate "for research"), 520 Pike Street, Suite 1075, Seattle, WA 98101 or Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Shelton, WA McComb & Wagner Funeral Home & Crematory in Shelton has charge of arrangements. Rest in peace, Gramma. Make sure they're crossing the t's and dotting the i's in heaven.