Sheila Mae (Radi) Hanson, 72, of Crookston, MN, died Wednesday evening, November 15, 2023, with her husband Randy by her side. Sheila was born in Crookston on May 18, 1951, and was the daughter of Earl and Eleanor (Olson) Radi.
She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Crookston and was a member of the church to this day. Sheila attended Crookston Public Schools and graduated from Central High School in 1969. She then went on to pursue a degree in Education at Moorhead State University and graduated in 1973. Upon graduation, Sheila returned home, where she was hired by Crookston Public Schools as a Special Education teacher and spent her entire career. She retired in 2008 after 35 years of service and received a C.E.A. Teacher of the Year award. Sheila continued to teach in her spare time as a substitute teacher.
It was in Crookston where she met her husband, Randy, who was attending the University of Minnesota-Crookston at the time. On October 18, 1975, they were united in marriage at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. The couple made their home in Crookston and raised two sons, Christopher and Michael.
When the boys were young, Sheila enjoyed traveling to places like the Black Hills, Yellowstone, Glacier, Banff National Parks, and various lakes in Minnesota. After many camping trips, a lakefront property was purchased on a wooded lot on Union Lake in 1984, and it was developed into the families’ own lake place over the years. At the lake, Sheila enjoyed tending to her flower garden, feeding the birds, and watching all the wildlife, including the occasional black bear that would wreak havoc on the feeders. As a retirement goal, Sheila and Randy purchased a camper and traveled to Lake Superior’s North Shore, the Black Hills of South Dakota, and Mt. Rushmore this past summer.
Sheila loved supporting her sons while they were in high school, attending nearly every school event they participated in, whether it was band, choir, football, or hockey. She enjoyed attending her grandson Conner’s football, hockey, and baseball games wherever those games took her. More recently, she loved spending time with her newest grandson, Gavin, watching him grow, playing games, reading stories, and being entertained by his dance moves.
Sheila is survived by her husband of 48 years, Randy; 2 sons, Chris (Steph Casmer) Hanson of New Hope, MN, and Mike Hanson of Crookston, MN; 2 grandsons, Conner and Gavin. She also leaves a sister, Brenda (Kim) Nelson of Sioux City, IA, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives. Sheila was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Eleanor Radi. May God bless Sheila’s memory.
A visitation at Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home will be on Friday, December 1, 2023, from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM. The memorial service celebrating Sheila’s life will be at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Crookston on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 2:00 PM, with a one-hour visitation prior. Inurnment will be at Oakdale Cemetery, following a luncheon at the church after the services.
