Phyllis Hanson, 97, Pelican Rapids, joined her departed loved ones on November 28, 2025. Born at home on May 12,1928, in Lockhart Township, Norman County, MN. Her parents were Robert and Isabel (Askew) Lee. Phyllis was the third child of four. Growing up during the depression on the farm where she was born, she remembered the hardness of the times, but had fond memories of celebrating with neighborhood families. She attended the neighborhood county school, Norman County Plath Park for grades 1st through 8th, to her remorse her family housed the teacher. She lived with her married sister, Marian, as there was no bus service to attend 9th grade at Beltrami High School in Beltrami, MN. She attended 10th-12th grades at Fertile High School and graduated in 1946. After high school she attended Interstate Business College in Fargo, ND, and worked in Crookston, MN, at the Eagle Drug Store.
Phyllis met Charles Hanson after his discharge from the US Navy and they were married on January 20, 1950. They moved to a rented farm in Good Hope Township and farmed with Charles’ brother, Wilfred. While living at this farmstead, their daughter, Janel, was born. Later they moved to the Lee family farm to the east and welcomed their second child, Wesley, which was followed by another brother, Marvin, who died after a few days. They farmed on the Lee farm until her younger brother, Willie, came home from the Navy and started farming. Then Chuck and Phyllis moved to the Iron Range living near Babbitt, MN where Charles worked for Reserve Mining and Phyllis raised the two children. In 1956, the family moved to El Segundo, CA, where Charles worked for the Los Angeles International Airport as a mechanic. When the Hanson family farm became available to buy, they moved back to the Beltrami area, where they lived for 53 years.
Phyllis enjoyed driving tractor, cooking great meals, gardening, sewing, quilting, baking, canning, mowing, doing crossword puzzles and being active in their church, the Beltrami Methodist Church. She was a hard worker. She served on the Reis Township board as Treasurer for many years. Chuck and Phyllis enjoyed many bus tours traveling the US. During this time, she took great pleasure in being a grandmother. She treasured having the grandkids come to stay each summer and tried to attend their events when possible. After Wesley married, she enjoyed her new step grandchildren.
In October of 2010, Chuck and Phyllis moved to Pelican Rapids, MN, buying a house to be closer to their daughter and her family. Charles passed away two weeks after they moved, and Phyllis lived alone in their house for 15 years. Her house was on the Halloween trick or treat street so her daughter and the family would come each year to have supper and help hand out treats. In June 2025, she moved to Riverfront on Main in Pelican Rapids, MN.
Phyllis is survived and missed by her daughter, Janel (Gary) Haugrud of Vergas, MN, and their children: Jessica (Greg) Sjostrom-children: Ethan, Isabella, and Asher Sjostrom; Lance (Penny) Haugrud-children: Hayden, Brysen, and Quinn Haugrud, and Brooke (Mac) Johnson-children: Aria and Atticus Johnson, all of Pelican Rapids, MN, and son, Wesley Hanson of Beltrami, MN, and his stepchildren: Tennille Olson of Fargo, ND-child: Katelyn Olson and her children: Greyson and Wyatt of Velva, ND, Serena Olson-son: Aadyn Olson of Crookston, MN: Joey Olson and Crystal Nesdahl of Grand Forks, ND-child: Wylee Nesdahl, along with numerous nephews and nieces.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Isabel Lee; infant son, Marvin Hanson; husband, Charles Hanson; daughter-in-law, Cindy (Sundeen) Hanson; brothers, Robert Lee, and Willard and Dorothy Lee; sister, Marian and Glen Gullekson; her in-laws, Ivel and Mabel Hanson, Leland and Margaret Hanson, Wilfred Hanson, and Gail and Clara Hanson; and nephews and nieces and their spouses.
Blessed be the memory of Phyllis Hanson.
Memorials are preferred to Fairview Cemetery in Beltrami, MN, or to the North Country Food Bank in East Grand Forks, MN.
Funeral Service: 1:00 PM, Saturday, December 6, 2025 at Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Home, Ada, MN.
Visitation: One hour before the funeral at Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Home, Ada, MN.
Burial: Fairview Cemetery, Beltrami, MN.
