Margaret Hanson
July 9, 1939 — January 6, 2018
As a beginning, Margaret M. Hanson moved to Avoca, Iowa in April 1962 with her husband Milton and her daughter Rena’. She lived in the house where she died, January 6, 2018, for over fifty three years.
Margaret was born July 9, 1939 in Denison, Iowa; her parents were Fredrick Holst and Leona Holst. She had an older brother Donald Holst. Her parents and brother preceded her in death.
She attended country school and graduated from Denison High in 1957. In the spring of 1959 she received a two year teaching certificate from the University of South Dakota. There she met Milton and they married October 4, 1959. She taught in three schools in South Dakota. Her salary, of $1,800.00 a year, helped Milton get through Law School. Margaret was able to substitute teach in Avoca until her certificate was no longer recognized. Margaret worked in her husband’s Law Office for a number of years checking income tax returns.
She was primarily a home maker and a stay at home mom for her three children, Rena’ born July 14, 1960, Dana born September 28, 1962 and Rita born February 4, 1965.
As a girl she was active in 4H and showed lambs at the Crawford County Fair. She and Marie McCarthy had a 4H group in the Avoca area. She had a Cub Scout group in her home. As the ladies in Avoca Lutheran Church were aware he was always there when needed for funerals and for church suppers. While Dana was in high school it was open house for any boy that wanted to eat dinner before a football game as she loved to cook. She was Treasurer of her class in Denison; as a result she was on committees that planned three high school reunions and as in all things she accomplished this with her usual efficiency.
The outside activity that was her true love was volunteer work at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. She did this for over 25 years as a Docent (teacher-guide) and was a day captain for over fifteen years. She truly enjoyed the contact with children, the education she received, and camaraderie with fellow Docents. Here again her efficiency gained her great praise and recognition. She contributed $5,000.00 to the Zoo’s Lemur project in Madagascar. The money was used to plant trees and pay salaries in this underdeveloped area.
Margaret attended her daughter Rena’s wedding in Avoca when she married Roger Shaw, her son Dana’s wedding in England when he married Heather Brown and her daughter Rita’s wedding in California when she married David Cummings.
Margaret had seven grandchildren and on great-grandchild. Rena’s children are Aaron and Rachel; Dana’s children are Reardon, Magnus, Grayson, Hadley and Lilly. Rachel’s child is Traxton. Margaret will be sorely missed by her husband, children, grandchild and great-grandchild as well as the Zoo crew and her relatives and friends.
To give some idea of the person; as sick as she was one of the last things she said to Milton, with tears, was; “Did you know Teresa Kardell died.” That says it all.
Margaret was born July 9, 1939 in Denison, Iowa; her parents were Fredrick Holst and Leona Holst. She had an older brother Donald Holst. Her parents and brother preceded her in death.
She attended country school and graduated from Denison High in 1957. In the spring of 1959 she received a two year teaching certificate from the University of South Dakota. There she met Milton and they married October 4, 1959. She taught in three schools in South Dakota. Her salary, of $1,800.00 a year, helped Milton get through Law School. Margaret was able to substitute teach in Avoca until her certificate was no longer recognized. Margaret worked in her husband’s Law Office for a number of years checking income tax returns.
She was primarily a home maker and a stay at home mom for her three children, Rena’ born July 14, 1960, Dana born September 28, 1962 and Rita born February 4, 1965.
As a girl she was active in 4H and showed lambs at the Crawford County Fair. She and Marie McCarthy had a 4H group in the Avoca area. She had a Cub Scout group in her home. As the ladies in Avoca Lutheran Church were aware he was always there when needed for funerals and for church suppers. While Dana was in high school it was open house for any boy that wanted to eat dinner before a football game as she loved to cook. She was Treasurer of her class in Denison; as a result she was on committees that planned three high school reunions and as in all things she accomplished this with her usual efficiency.
The outside activity that was her true love was volunteer work at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. She did this for over 25 years as a Docent (teacher-guide) and was a day captain for over fifteen years. She truly enjoyed the contact with children, the education she received, and camaraderie with fellow Docents. Here again her efficiency gained her great praise and recognition. She contributed $5,000.00 to the Zoo’s Lemur project in Madagascar. The money was used to plant trees and pay salaries in this underdeveloped area.
Margaret attended her daughter Rena’s wedding in Avoca when she married Roger Shaw, her son Dana’s wedding in England when he married Heather Brown and her daughter Rita’s wedding in California when she married David Cummings.
Margaret had seven grandchildren and on great-grandchild. Rena’s children are Aaron and Rachel; Dana’s children are Reardon, Magnus, Grayson, Hadley and Lilly. Rachel’s child is Traxton. Margaret will be sorely missed by her husband, children, grandchild and great-grandchild as well as the Zoo crew and her relatives and friends.
To give some idea of the person; as sick as she was one of the last things she said to Milton, with tears, was; “Did you know Teresa Kardell died.” That says it all.
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