Louise ‘Betty’ Hansen, 85, Waterford, died Feb. 3, 2015, at her home.
She was born Dec. 4, 1929, in Burlington, the seventh of eight children of William and Anna Tenwinkel.
On July 7, 1956, she married Warren Bruce Hansen. She was in love with Bruce long before she married him and carried a picture of him that he gave her when he away in the Air Force until her death. He preceded her in death on June 22, 1999.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Feb. 28, from 1-3 p.m., at the Cotton Exchange, Cotton Patch room, in Waterford. She will be buried alongside her husband at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove.
She worked three jobs during her lifetime. The first, right out of high school, was as office help at Ford dealerships for 25 years where she met her husband and then for 23 years for the Standard Press in Burlington. After Bruce passed away, Betty spent 10 more years working half the year in the office at Yellowstone National Park until she was 80 years old.
She also kept busy using her creative talents. She did woodworking, painting, canning, upholstering, sewed doll clothes, and researched her genealogy. She enjoyed playing cards and playing the piano. She was known for her happy, adventurous spirit. She never shied away from a challenge and showed everyone how to live life to the fullest.
Survivors include her sister, Mary Jane Busch, Burlington; daughters, Dianne (Steve) Handrick, Loyal, Donna (Mike) Janovicz, Waterford, Darlene (Kevin) Shopher, Mexico, Mo., Delaine (Ron) Young, Jonesburg, Mo.; her son, Dean (Charlene) Hansen, Eau Claire; 14 grandchildren, Evan (Lauren) Handrick, Turkey, Alex Handrick, Tennessee, John (Eryn) Hansen, California, Grant (Dani) Hansen, Colorado, Carley (John) Hansen, Andrea (Matt) Rausch, Claire Handrick, and Erica Downey, all Wisconsin, Chaz Baker, Rachel Baker, Amanda Mizell, Jaime Mizell, Ryan Shopher, Robyn (Travis) Phipps, all Missouri; nine great-grandchildren, Warren Hansen, Addison and Hollyn Bartelt, Keira, Kaylee and Mason Rausch, Avery, Landon, and Stella Coker.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Bill, Chuck, Bernie Tenwinkel); sisters, Mickie DeVoy, Rosie Clausen and Florence Hefty.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials may be made to the Waterford Public Library, 101 N. River St., or the Waterford Fire District, 122 N. Second St.
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