Evelyn "Dixie" Bernice (Elmquist) Hanson

Evelyn "Dixie" Hanson, age 92 of Glenwood, died Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at the Glenwood Retirement Village. A memorial service celebrating Dixie's life will be held on Saturday, January 21st at 11:00 a.m. at Glenwood Lutheran Church with Rev. Krista Lee officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. The service will be livestreamed on the church's website glenwoodlutheran.com for those unable to attend in person. Inurnment will be in the spring at the Glenwood Lutheran Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood. To celebrate Dixie’s love for the Vikings and Twins, her family is encouraging people to dress casually, in Minnesota Twins and Vikings attire.

Evelyn “Dixie” Bernice Hanson, the daughter of Alfred and Betsy (Mithun) Elmquist was born November 13, 1930 in Kensington, Minnesota. She was the 4th of 11 children and grew up with her family on a small farm west of Kensington. Dixie attended school and graduated from Kensington High School in 1948. After high school, she moved to Alexandria and got a job at Osteberg Café. She met Bill Hanson and was united in marriage to him in 1951. This union was blessed with four children, Bill, Dennis, Dee-Dee and Mark. The couple moved around for a few years and were later divorced.

In 1960, Dixie moved to Glenwood. She started cooking at the Glenwood High School and when the elementary school was built in 1964 she became the head cook. She worked for the school for next 17 years until she retired. After Dixie retired, she became a volunteer foster grandparent in the elementary school for many years. She was a member of Glenwood Lutheran Church. Dixie enjoyed reading, word puzzles, playing card and board games. She was an avid Minnesota Vikings and Twins fan.  Dixie loved spending time with her family and visiting. When she was unable to visit in person she spent many hours on the phone connecting with family and friends.  When Dixie needed help with her daily care she moved into the Glenwood Retirement Village. She passed away peacefully there on January 10, 2023.

Dixie is survived by her children: Bill (Carol) Hanson of Glenwood, Dennis Hanson of Glenwood, Dee-Dee (Gary) Hanson of Spicer and Mark (Kirsten) Hanson of West Fargo, ND; grandchildren: Sheila (Jon) Nordquist, Tracy (Matt) Reimer, Amber (Jeff) Barrett, Charlene Robinson, Payton Hanson, Joseph (Dawn) Majerus, Josh (Carrie) Majerus, Eleigh (Mike) Lundebrek, Callie Katers and Alex (Libby) Katers; great-grandchildren: McKella, Kylee, Briggs, Brittany, Kitri, Jaden, Cade, Dalton, Ella, Morgan, Ryan, Jack, Aron, Jake, Mileigh and Matt; one great-great granddaughter, Azaleia; siblings, Ione Haggberg of Maple Grove, Jerry (Jean) Elmquist of Sacramento, CA, Shirley Lohmeyer of Ten Sleep, WY, Lois (Frank) Olson of Benbrook, TX, Mavis (Curt) Haagenson of Battle Lake, and Darlene Elmquist of Barrett; sister-in-law, Maryanne Elmquist of Elk River; close special friend, Kathleen Peterson; nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

Dixie was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Orlin and Donald (Deloris) and James Elmquist, sister and her husband, Gladys (Harlan) Chayer; brothers-in-law, Charles Haggberg and Paul Lohmeyer.

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