Obituary of Lois Hanson

Lois Mae (Heimer) Hanson of Newton and Assaria exited this life Sept. 11, 2012, leaving behind her husband Norman of the home, daughters Janet Kay Dodson (Duane), Crete, Nebraska, Joy Ann Robb (Joe), Newton, Jennifer Jo Hanson, Lawrence, granddaughters Betsy and Caroline Robb, Newton. Also surviving are sisters Norma Swenson, Assaria, and Marjorie Coffman, Denver, Colorado. She was born in the Assaria community, attended Berg School and graduated from Assaria Grade and High Schools. She earned a diploma in Secretarial Science from Brown-Mackie School of Business and was office manager for the Saline County Superintendent of Schools. She later served as assistant to the director of purchasing, Kansas Gas and Electric Company, Lawrence, Kansas. She served as the administrative assistant to legendary basketball coach, Phog Allen, at the University of Kansas. This she considered the highlight of her career and inspired her lifelong enthusiasm for basketball in general and the University of Kansas Jayhawks in particular. She later served as the administrative assistant to the manager of Railroad Operations at the Sunflower Ordinance Plant, Desoto, Kansas. Moving to Salina, she became secretary to the division manager, Kansas Power and Light Company. Moving to Oklahoma, she became administrative assistant to the president of Metalcrafts Aviation Corporation, Ponca City. She was involved in all phases of operations. From there she moved to be secretary and administrative assistant to the director of Pipe Line Accounting, Continental Oil Company, Ponca City. Returning to Salina, she became a sales associate for J. C. Penney Company and served as a department supervisor. She later became a stay-at-home mom while raising a family. Continuing this activity, she moved to Kansas City and then to the Washington, D.C. area. In this period, however, she developed and operated a large and successful Avon Products business in Rockville, Maryland. She also served as an interim elementary school teacher at Walnut Hills Elementary School, Rockville, Maryland, during a prolonged teacher strike in the county school system. Returning to fulltime employment, she became the office manager of a district office of Acacia Life Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. She then became office manager of the career programs division of the Montgomery County, Maryland Schools. Returning to Lawrence, Kansas she completed a varied and interesting career as library secretary at West Junior High School. She attended the University of Kansas, the University of Maryland, Montgomery County, Maryland Junior College, Hutchinson Community College, and graduated from Johnson County Community College with a major in interior design. This major was the refinement of her lifetime interests and one she practiced with pleasure in the many new homes in which she lived. She was a former member of the Mutual Girls of the YWCA, a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, the Santa Fe Trail Association, the Fort Larned Old Guard, a life member of the University of Kansas Alumni Association, and the Jayhawk Society. She was a founding member of The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Olney, Maryland and later served on many committees of the St. John's Lutheran Church, Rockville, Maryland. She was currently a member of the Assaria Lutheran Church, Assaria, Kansas. She enjoyed traveling and visited all the states and state capitols, many national parks and historical sites. Interested in history, she had traveled the full length of the Santa Fe Trail, the Oregon Trail, Lewis and Clark Trail, the Pony Express Trail, and the Bozeman Trail. An inveterate hiking enthusiast, she received a certificate from the state of Minnesota citing her accomplishment of being the twenty sixth person for hiking one hundred miles in its state parks which culminated in her hiking in all their sixty four parks. An avid Volksmarcher, she completed three hundred twenty ( 10 km) hikes in twenty five states. Her many interests included being a realtor and active in real estate development, raising flowers of many varieties, and pursuing numerous outdoor activities. In later life, she was active in and enjoyed the YMCA for its many activities particularly exercise machines and swimming. She is honored for many successful roles in her life's journey: Wife, mother, student, office professional, sports fan, and most of all; encourager and confidante of her family. She played the pivotal role for the family and quietly attributed it all to good old common sense. Visitation will be Thursday from 4-7pm with family present from 6-7pm at Christians Funeral Home, Lindsborg. A Funeral Service will be held at 2 PM Friday at Assaria Lutheran Church, with burial following at Assaria Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials may be designated for Assaria Lutheran Church in care of Christians Funeral Home 103 N. Washington PO Box 386 Lindsborg, KS 67456. Online condolences at http://www.christiansfuneralhome.com/