Arlene R. Hanson, 80, Minot, died Monday, June 17, 2019 in a Minot nursing home.

Arlene Ruth (Bjerke) Hanson was born July 25th 1938 in Mayville Union Hospital, Mayville, North Dakota to Melvin and Magda (Otteson) Bjerke. She attended grade school in Steele County and graduated from Portland High School in 1957. She married Kenneth Hanson on January 22nd 1958 in Seguin, TX. They moved all over the country for Kenneth's work which took them to CA, TX, MO, and ND. They moved to Minot in 1968 where Arlene worked for B&B Drug for 17 years, finally "retiring" in 1991. She had been an active member of Christ Lutheran Church where she was involved in CLCW, council, Hostfest preparations and a key figure at Katie's Soup Kitchen and the Cathedral Choir. She volunteered weekly at the Trinity Hospital Gift Shop, made hundreds of baby blankets, embroidered thousands of dish towels for new brides, kept QVC in business, and was a faithful HGTV fan. Her witty, unpredictable and sometimes unsolicited advice kept her family and friends in stitches. Arlene's kitchen and basement were always a beehive of activity, where over the years, she produced tens of thousands lefse rounds, rosettes, krumkake, sunbuckles and other treats.  One of her greatest joys was to spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Countless hours were spent shuttling them around and giving advice with a good dose of reality and humor.  She enjoyed cooking, sewing, music, traveling and spending time with her friends and family. Arlene and her husband were avid travelers and enjoyed spending time in Norway, Germany, England, Alaska, Hawaii, Florida as well as many trips back to Portland & Mayville. After her husband died on June 12th 2007, Arlene showed the true courage and strength of a stubborn Norwegian woman. She continued to live in her own house, drive everywhere, travel around the world and kept busy until the end.

Loving family include; children, Janet Sherman of Surrey, ND, Lyle Hanson and wife Rita of Rapid City, SD and Joan Lambert of Minot, ND;  five grand-daughters: Jessica Mueller and husband Daniel of RAF Mildenhall/Lakenheath, UK, Miranda Sherman of Surrey, Chelsea Sherman with friend Dustin Heizelman of Minot, Megan Stahl and husband Tyler of Minot, Ali BeauLac and husband Gene of Minot;  eleven great-grandchildren: Mason, Naduah, Dominic, Dalton, Brody, Ryker, Asher, Aria, Celia, Jenner and Jensyn; brothers: Sam Bjerke and Bobby (Sharon) Bjerke. Sisters: Marion Brasel and Corrine Knudson as well as a very large extended family of brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers Herman and Richard and sister Marcella.

Funeral Service : Friday, June 21, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. in Christ Lutheran Church, Minot.
Visitation: Thursday, June 20, 2019 from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Prayer Service: Thursday, June 20, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to Katie's Kitchen or the Cathedral Choir of Christ Lutheran Church, Minot.

Arlene R. Hanson Flowers