Florence J. Hanson, age 94 of McClusky, formerly of Turtle Lake, passed away on January 4th, 2012 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Turtle Lake.

Funeral Services will be held 10:00 A.M. Monday, Jan. 9th at Trinity Lutheran Church in Turtle Lake with Pastor Betty J. Stedman, officiating. Interment will be in the Riverview Cemetery, Washburn.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Sunday at Goetz Funeral Home in Washburn, and continue Monday one hour prior to time of service at the church.

Florence was born November 11, 1917 in Ecklund Township, rural Wilton, ND, to Emil and Beda (Olson) Backman. She attended school for eight years in a country school and later attended high school in Wilton. She was employed doing housework in the Wilton and Washburn area. Florence married Ernest Bergquist on October 15, 1938. They farmed in the Veeder District, rural Washburn, for many years. Ernest died on March 18, 1963. In 1965, Florence moved to Turtle Lake where she worked at the Community Memorial Hospital. She married Harold Hanson on January 14, 1967 and they made their home in Turtle Lake. Harold died on September 2, 1993. Florence continued to reside in Turtle Lake until July 2009 when she moved to the Sheridan Memorial Home in McClusky. Florence was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and the Ladies Aid group. She was involved in several community organizations such as the Veeder and Turtle Lake Homemakers Clubs, and the 69ers Senior Club. She also served as President of the McLean County Homemakers Council. In her earlier years, she took flight lessons and flew an airplane solo on a few occasions. Florence enjoyed bird watching, fishing, gardening, flowers, cooking, entertaining, sewing, bowling, photography, and completing jigsaw & crossword puzzles.

She is survived by her children, Richard (Pat) Bergquist of El Paso, IL, Bill (Lois) Bergquist of Golden Valley, MN, and Claudia (Lloyd) Thompson of Grafton, ND; 12 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren; two step-daughters, Pat Hanson Weber of Scranton, ND, & Joan Hanson Maertens of Mason City, IA; one sister-in-law, Esther Olson Miller of Underwood; and many nieces & nephews.

Florence was preceded in death by her parents, husbands (Ernest Bergquist and Harold Hanson), one son (Paul Bergquist), and three brothers (Ralph, Leslie, and Norman), one sister (Frances Sundquist), & one step-daughter (Barbara Hanson Bonnet).