Essie "Betty" Elizabeth Hanson

Essis Elizabeth (Betty) Hanson

Note: Although the headline has been left as printed, the name has been changed to Essie in our data base, as that is what is in the Social Security Index as well as the Lusk Cemetery Records.

Betty Hanson was born Dec. 12, 1893 in DuBois, Pa., the youngest daughter of Charles A. and Petronella (Swanson) Johnson. She spent her early years in DuBois, working as a telephone switchboard operator.

During the 1920's she moved to Chicago, Ill. to be near her sister, Effie and brother, Charles. She worked as a housekeeper for several years for Mrs. Carrie Buck in Willamette, Ill. Mrs. Buck's father, the Rev. O.S. Baker, had homesteaded on Alkali Creek in northern Niobrara County, Wyoming in the early 1900's.

It was through this relationship that Betty was introduced to William O. (Bill) Hanson, a bachelor homesteader neighbor of Rev. Baker. After several months of exchanging letters and pictures, Betty and Billy were married by Rev. Baker in Whitney, Neb. June 29, 1929. Betty joined her husband on his ranch, the OH Bar, where they lived until retirement in 1964.

In retirement, they lived in Edgemont, S. Dak., where Billy died July 27, 1971.

Betty continued living in Edgemont until 1974, when she purchased a home in Littleton, Colo. to be near her son, Milton.

She suffered from Parkinson's Disease for the past several years and most recently resided in the Cherry Hills Nursing Home, Englewood, Colo.

Betty died Feb. 16, 1984. She is survived by her son, Milton; her brother, Charles, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; three grandchildren, William A., Ketchikan, Alaska, Betty Sue, Morehead, Key. and Robert M., Boston Mass.; two great-grandchildren, Erin Anais Hanson and Annie Sunshine Ison.

Services were at Peet Mortuary in Lusk, Feb. 21 with interment in the Lusk Cemetery.

Rev. Jeffrey B. Sorenson of Edgemont, S. Dak. officiated.

Minerva Watson provided organ music and Robert M. Hanson a violin solo. Soloist Mary Amendola sang "The Lord's Prayer."

Pallbearers were Sam Rennard, Russell Christensen, Glen Peterson, Jim Reed, Orin Carr and John Cooksey.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church, Edgemont, S. Dak. 57735.

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