Shirley Hansen
Shirley Ann Eliassen Hansen of Dagmar went home April 4, 2008 at the Warm Sunsets Assisted
Living in Florence, MT, after a long battle with cancer.
Shirley Ann was born September 16, 1931 at home on the farm in Grenora, North Dakota to Otelia
(Olson) and Art Eliassen. She was the oldest of five children. She graduated from Grenora High
School and attended school in Minot and received a teaching certificate and taught for 1 year at
Fertile Valley School.
Dennis Hansen first saw Shirley Ann while she was playing the saxophone in a little band called
the Glow Worms, at Brush Lake outside of Dagmar. In the fall of 1949 they started dating and
Dennis told her that she would marry him and much to her surprise she did on June 14, 1950 at
the Skabo Lutheran Church NE of Grenora. They made their home on the Hansen family farm in
Dagmar and raised five children. She was an incredibly hard worker from the get go; milking
cows, being Dennis' right hand woman in the fields, cooking and baking and taking care of the
children. As her children grew Shirley Ann discovered her many talents. She made the best buns
and cinnamon rolls ever!
Shirley Ann Eliassen Hansen of Dagmar went home April 4, 2008 at the Warm Sunsets Assisted
Living in Florence, MT, after a long battle with cancer.
Shirley Ann was born September 16, 1931 at home on the farm in Grenora, North Dakota to Otelia
(Olson) and Art Eliassen. She was the oldest of five children. She graduated from Grenora High
School and attended school in Minot and received a teaching certificate and taught for 1 year at
Fertile Valley School.
Dennis Hansen first saw Shirley Ann while she was playing the saxophone in a little band called
the Glow Worms, at Brush Lake outside of Dagmar. In the fall of 1949 they started dating and
Dennis told her that she would marry him and much to her surprise she did on June 14, 1950 at
the Skabo Lutheran Church NE of Grenora. They made their home on the Hansen family farm in
Dagmar and raised five children. She was an incredibly hard worker from the get go; milking
cows, being Dennis' right hand woman in the fields, cooking and baking and taking care of the
children. As her children grew Shirley Ann discovered her many talents. She made the best buns
and cinnamon rolls ever!
| . . . . in Memory of . . . . |
She took up tole painting then switched to oil painting. She learned to quilt and she would always have a dishcloth that was being
knitted. Her vegetable garden was prolific but it was her flower beds that were her pride and joy. After the kids left home she became a
sheep herder. She took the most tender loving care of her sheep and did every thing she could to keep a lamb alive. In her spare time
she was a 4-H leader, teaching sewing and cooking. She enjoyed being active in W.I.F.E. She was a life long member of the WELCA at
the Volmer Lutheran Church. She enjoyed traveling with Dennis and together they explored many parts of the United States.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Dale and Art Jr .. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Dennis and their 5
children. Randy of Williston, ND, Darcie (George) Drabbs of Malta, MT, Rory of Great Falls, Vickie (Jay) Mitman of Florence, MT and Julee
(Russell) Guenther of Florence, MT. She is survived by 10 grandchildren and 5 great grand children, and her sister, Lorraine (Odean)
Bendixson of Watford City, ND and her brother Keith (Kathleen) Eliassen of Gillette, WY.
She will be greatly missed by all for her subtle sense of humor and willingness to help anyone. She was a good friend to many. She
loved greatly and she was loved greatly.
A memorial service will be held at the Volmer Lutheran Church in Dagmar at 2:00 PM Saturday, April 12. Johnette Grefe will officiate at
the service; interment of cremated remains in Volmer Cemetery will follow.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at the Warm Sunsets Assisted Living and Partners Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations made to the Volmer Lutheran Church in Dagmar, MT or Partners Hospice in Missoula.
Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood has charge of local arrangements.
knitted. Her vegetable garden was prolific but it was her flower beds that were her pride and joy. After the kids left home she became a
sheep herder. She took the most tender loving care of her sheep and did every thing she could to keep a lamb alive. In her spare time
she was a 4-H leader, teaching sewing and cooking. She enjoyed being active in W.I.F.E. She was a life long member of the WELCA at
the Volmer Lutheran Church. She enjoyed traveling with Dennis and together they explored many parts of the United States.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Dale and Art Jr .. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Dennis and their 5
children. Randy of Williston, ND, Darcie (George) Drabbs of Malta, MT, Rory of Great Falls, Vickie (Jay) Mitman of Florence, MT and Julee
(Russell) Guenther of Florence, MT. She is survived by 10 grandchildren and 5 great grand children, and her sister, Lorraine (Odean)
Bendixson of Watford City, ND and her brother Keith (Kathleen) Eliassen of Gillette, WY.
She will be greatly missed by all for her subtle sense of humor and willingness to help anyone. She was a good friend to many. She
loved greatly and she was loved greatly.
A memorial service will be held at the Volmer Lutheran Church in Dagmar at 2:00 PM Saturday, April 12. Johnette Grefe will officiate at
the service; interment of cremated remains in Volmer Cemetery will follow.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at the Warm Sunsets Assisted Living and Partners Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations made to the Volmer Lutheran Church in Dagmar, MT or Partners Hospice in Missoula.
Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood has charge of local arrangements.
| 1931 - 2008 |
Remembering Shirley
Ella (Nielsen) Phelps
Bismarck, North Dakota
fkpeep@bis.midco.net
I'll always remember Shirley as a friend and the great person she was when I lived in Dagmar and belonged to the Volmer
Church. From Ella (Nielsen, Everett) Phelps and children: Jeff, Dwight, Rod and Danny Nielsen. We extend our heartfelt
sympathy to Dennis and the children.
Bismarck, North Dakota
fkpeep@bis.midco.net
I'll always remember Shirley as a friend and the great person she was when I lived in Dagmar and belonged to the Volmer
Church. From Ella (Nielsen, Everett) Phelps and children: Jeff, Dwight, Rod and Danny Nielsen. We extend our heartfelt
sympathy to Dennis and the children.