Elizabeth Anne Hansen, age 92, was a dear wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend who passed away on Thursday, October 6, 2016 at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow, MT.
Betty was born on October 11, 1923 in North Tonawanda, NY, near Niagara Falls, youngest of six children. She met her future husband, Magnus when she was 15 years old and they married soon after her 18th birthday on October 25, 1941. Magnus’ brother was married to Betty’s sister and they developed a friendship first and a loving relationship which lasted for more than 70 years before Magnus’ passing in 2012.
They moved to Oyster Bay, NY soon after their marriage and eventually to Bayville, NY where they built the house they lived in for over 50 years before moving to St. Marie, MT in 2002.
Betty loved her family and recounted stories of their accomplishments and achievements as well as carrying around her “Grandma’s Brag Booklet” of photos. Her first and most important job was as a wife and mother and she took her responsibilities to heart. She was the class mother for her daughters when they were little, a Girl Scout Leader, Garden Club participant and Senior Citizen Club officer when she resided in New York. She worked as a bookkeeper for 18 years at Gristedes Supermarkets in New York. She loved to sew and bake and made jelly from the fruit trees in her yard. While her movements in her later years were not as active as when younger, she was a devout Catholic and said her rosary daily.
She was preceded in death by her husband Magnus, her sisters Helen Waild, Ethel Maines, Marion Peabody, and brothers, Reginald Pineo, and Austin Pineo.
She is survived by her four daughters, Sandra Alexander, Diana Hansen, Linda (John) Fiorillo and Nilla Hansen; grandchildren John Watson, James (Lori) Watson, Kathryn (John) McCarthy, Richard Townsend, Brian (Cheryl) Townsend, David (Yo) Brown, and Steven (Daniela) Fiorillo; and great-granddaughters Brittany Watson, Sydney Watson and Brianna Townsend.
A visitation will be on Friday, October 14th, 2016 with family receiving friends from 4:00-6:00 PM. Services will be held on Saturday, October 15th, 2016 at 10:00 AM at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Glasgow, Montana, with burial at Highland Cemetery in Glasgow, Montana following services.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in her name. Donations should be sent to FMD Hospital Foundation, 621 3rd Street South, Glasgow, MT 59230.