Obituary of Delores Ida Hansen

Delores "Dee" Ida Hansen joined her heavenly Father and the “love of her life” on December 9th, 2020. Dee was born to Elizabeth and Frank Marxen on August 19th, 1925 in Jordan, MN. Dee grew up on a farm and her values were shaped by her loving parents and her deep faith. After graduating from high school, Dee moved to Minneapolis where this budding “career” girl met a returning GI and “the rest was history”. Dee married Bill Hansen on August 24, 1947. Living briefly in Rockford, IL and Duluth, MN, they made their home in Minneapolis. During their first seventeen years together, they welcomed twelve children into the world and celebrated each birth as if it were their first. They also welcomed those who needed a family and a safe place to call home. Rarely did the dinner table not contain a friend or cousin who needed a place where food and family were so generously shared. She and Bill bought a cabin on Lipsie Lake near Spooner, Wis. in 1969. For the next thirty years, it became the place for family and friends to gather every summer. When Bill retired, they divided their year between winters in Mesa, AZ and the Wisconsin cabin. Each place held many friends and visits from family and those who called themselves family. In 1973, Dee became a grandma for the first time. The following years added being Grandma to 33 grandchildren. Each was a cherished gift and she knew every birthday and attended every one of their life celebrations. She was a tiny lady who loomed so large in each of those 33 lives and was the inspiration for the lives they aspired to live. In the years to follow she became “GG” to 54 great-grandchildren who learned the beauty of age and wisdom from a woman who espoused both so abundantly. In her later years, Dee lost most of her sight but she never complained and continued to be fully engaged with life. She loved audio books, library coffee with her friends, playing cards and the Minnesota Vikings. Above all that, Dee loved most of all, visits from those who called her Mom or Grandma or GG. Dee was a woman of rare grace who judged no one, forgave all, and loved enormously. She is survived by her children: Jeff & Jan (Jenny), Jay & Jean, Bette & Bruce (Sara, Ben, Jessie, Dan & Chris), Mary (Justin & Kristin), Kathy & Walt (Katie & Andy), Bill &Vicki (Christina, Andrea, Angela & Aaron), Mark & Mary (Joshua, Jesse, Abby & Jonathan), Jon & Lisa (Michael & Meaghan), Diane & Ron (Kari & Kassi), Theresa & Steve (Melissa, Kelly, & Laura), Carol & Al (Ashley, Kyle & Austin), Amy & Bill (Ryan, Tyler & Sam). Dee will be greeted in Heaven by her loving husband Bill, grandsons Jeremy and Jason, son-in-law Pat and all those she loved who went before her. Dee’s life was guided on a path by her love for God and her commitment to carry His love into the world. She never wavered. She was the embodiment of what love can do to change the world. A celebration of her life will take place next summer. Dee will be buried next to her husband Bill at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.