Ardell Lavonne Hansen

Ardell LaVonne Hansen, the daughter of Ole J. and Mary Mathisen Hansen, was born April 22, 1930, at her parents home in Jackson Township, Shelby County, Iowa and died December 11, 2010 at the Cass County Home Care/Hospice in Atlantic, Iowa at the age of 80 years, 7 months, and 19 days.
Ardell was baptized May 25, 1930, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church west of Jacksonville, Iowa and confirmed May 9, 1943, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kimballton, Iowa. She attended rural schools near Jacksonville and then graduated from the Audubon High School with the Class of 1946. Following graduation, Ardell, taught rural school from 1947 through 1948 at the school south of Kimballton.
On September 16, 1949, she was united in marriage to Merle Hansen at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kimballton. Four children David, Richard, Beverly and Carolyn were born to this union. They farmed north of Walnut, Iowa for a short time then moved west of Exira, Iowa to farm in 1960. In 1963 they purchased their farm in Brayton, Iowa. Ardell was a homemaker helping Merle farm, raising their family, and making wedding cakes. She also helped at the Brayton pre-school for several years. Ardell later was employed as a bookkeeper for CropMate in Brayton until she retired after working there for over 20 years.
Ardell was a member of the Brayton Lutheran Church and was a member of the Womens Circle. She also enjoyed helping with the Bible School during the summers. She served several terms on the Brayton City Council and assisted at the polls during elections. She was a member of the Helping Hands Neighborhood Club west of Brayton. Ardells main hobby was quilting, making numerous quilts for her family and friends. She enjoyed tending to her flower garden, but her main priority was her family especially spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Ardell was preceded in death by her parents Ole J. and Mary Hansen; her brother Orville and wife Aletha Hansen; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Harold Hansen, Norman Hansen, Herman Greve, Henrietta Greve and her second husband Wayne Henningsen, Ardelle and husband Alvin Andersen, and Lavinna and husband A.O. (Sonny) Wiess.
Ardell is survived by her husband of 61 years Merle Hansen of Brayton, Iowa; her children Dave and wife Joy Hansen of Brayton, Richard and wife Darla Hansen and Beverly and husband Kirk Hall all of Atlantic, Iowa, Carolyn and husband J.R. Frazier of Springfield, Missouri; her grandchildren Kevin Sorensen of Des Moines, Iowa, Brooke and husband Cory Baier of Audubon, Iowa and their children Trevan, Haddley, and Tristan, Brett and wife Amy Hansen of Exira, Iowa and their children Aliyah and Charli, Tara Hansen and friend Andrew Martin of Atlantic, Kyle and wife Ali Hansen of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, Matt Hall of Huxley, Iowa (presently serving in Afghanistan), Mike Hall and Zach Hall both of Atlantic, Stacie and husband Jeff Mountain of Springfield and their children Briella, Cody, Dylan, and McKinsey, Daniel Hansen and his friend Janelle Miller of Springfield, Angie and husband Brandon Messner of Battlefield, Missouri, Emily and Shawn Kelso of Mount Vernon, Missouri and their son Chandler, Erica Frazier and fianc Scott Bauer of Springfield, Jonathan Frazier (currently serving in Afghanistan) and wife Morgana of Fort Campbell , Kentucky and their daughter Marissa, her brothers Lyle and wife Darlene Hansen of Des Moines, Iowa, Dallas Hansen of Kimballton, Iowa, her brother-in-law and sisters-in-law Donald and wife Luella Hansen and Mary Hansen all of Walnut, Iowa, Hazel Hansen of Harlan, Iowa; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Oakfield Cemetery east of Brayton.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends on Tuesday evening, December 14, 2010, at 5:00 P.M. the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Wednesday, December 15, 2010, at 10:30 A.M. at the Brayton Lutheran Church in Brayton, Iowa.