Delores Jean Hanson, 96, Brea, CA died February 23, 2023 in Brea, CA.  Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, April 28, 2023 in the Turtle Lake Cemetery.

Delores Jean Hanson, 96, born November 28 ^th , 1926 in Fisher, Minnesota, died February 23, 2023 at Kindred Hospital in Brea, California.  It was her wish to pass away surrounded by her family, and her long years simply came to their final end.  God bless her always smiling spirit.  No one in the family ever knew anyone who treated them more kind.

Delores was the faultless example of being a devoted wife and mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and friend.  She deserves the loudest boom from the highest display of sky-filled fireworks in the honor of her life.  Yet, she would be embarrassed and uncomfortable upon being talked about in such a way.

Delores has left behind many loving family members.  Her two remaining sons, Grant and Kent were at her side as she passed away, as were her granddaughters, Hayley (Berto) and Carolyn, and her great grandson, Cannon.

Other family members that proceeded her in death include her late husband, Ralph Hanson, who she loved and was married to for 72 years.  Also included are her two oldest sons, Gary and Craig, her parents, Fred and Minnie, and her three brothers, Vergil, Vernon and Orville, all of whom she loved dearly.

Everyone called her father Fred, though his name was Frederick Haake, and her mother's name was Minnie.  Delores grew up in a wonderful home on a large area of farmland.  Her parents worked hard farming and were very successful, and Delores lived a comfortable childhood.  Her favorite pet was her red cocker spaniel dog, Peggy.  Peggy was a very smart dog, well trained, and kept her close and loving company throughout her childhood.

Delores moved from Fisher, Minnesota at the age of 8 years old to Grand Forks, North Dakota.  She graduated Central High School in Grand Forks, North Dakota in 1944.  Playing basketball was fun for her, and she really liked playing all of the sports games, but none of them were offered for girls at her time in high school.  After Delores graduated high school, she studied to become a hair stylist, and attended the New York Hairdressing Academy of Cosmetology in Fargo, North Dakota.  She graduated with a diploma in 1946.  From then on, she held a yearly North Dakota-State Board of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists License as she worked at the Kato's Beauty Salon in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Delores first met her future husband, Ralph Hanson, in June of 1948, and they became engaged to be married in September of 1948.  They shared a special afternoon where they confided their feelings with each other, which grew quickly into Ralph's wedding proposal to her.  They purchased their wedding rings together quickly after.  Delores married Ralph in September, 1949.

Delores's first home together with Ralph was at Minot State College, Minot, North Dakota.  It was a simple trailer, but it was an affectionate start of their lives together.  Ralph attended the college after being given his Army honorary military discharge from his duty in World War II.  Soon after, they moved to live with Ralph's parents on their farmland in 1950.  In the year 1955 they decided to move to California to benefit Ralph's future teaching career.

By that time Delores had three young sons, Gary, Craig and Grant.  They drove off from the Hanson farmland homestead with all of their belongings in a 1948 Plymouth car towing a 6 ft. x 12ft. trailer.  And, after three days and three nights, they finally arrived in California tired but happy.

Delores had a fourth son, Kent, in 1957.  She lived in Santa Ana, California at the time, and her family soon bought a new home in Santa Ana in 1960.  Ralph was now very established with teaching and working at Disneyland part time, and Delores was keeping her home in order with four young sons to look after.  Her Lutheran Christian upbringing stayed with her, and she had her sons attend the local St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church throughout their young lives.  The boys would listen to her at their bedtimes as she spoke a nightly bedtime prayer called "As I Lay Me Down to Sleep" from the New England Primer, 17 ^th century origin.  She sat easy on the bed next to them, and her young sons would recite it out loud with the final Amen. Then she would leave their bedroom doors open just a crack to let the hallway light into their rooms in order that it would not feel too dark.

In 1969 Delores and family moved to a new and bigger home to Brea, California.  It was in order to be both closer to Ralph's school where he taught science, and to give her son's more room to live.  As the boys continued to grow up, she never really slowed down.  Delores grew an interest and became involved in charity causes, and began to contribute to several charity organizations.  Her many charity contributions continued throughout the rest of her life.

Many things happened in her family through the coming years.  There were both good things she enjoyed and difficult things she simply dealt with as a part of life.  Yet, whatever came her way, Delores was true to being supportive to others and never let herself become a low-spirited person.  It is not amazing how she kept her spirit up, because that was just her way.  Delores had a true belief in herself, and held true to what she felt was right and wrong.

Delores lived the Shakespeare quote that stated "It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves..."  She was true to herself in every way.

Goodnight, Delores… "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take."  Amen…and goodnight, dearest member of our family.