Clara M. Hanson

Clara M. Hanson, 89 of Cromwell, died Thursday, May 25, 2006. She was born in Robbinsdale, Minnesota on December 10, 1916, the fourth of seven children born to Mary and George C. Smith. Clara graduated from Minneapolis North High School in 1934 and from the University of Minnesota in 1938 with a degree in home economics. She completed courses towards her masters degree in English at UMD. Clara was hired to teach at Cromwell High School in the fall of 1938. She taught at Floodwood High School in 1939 before returning to teach at Cromwell High School for a few years leaving to raise her family of three sons. She returned to teaching at Cromwell High School in 1963 and taught for many more years until retiring in 1987. Clara married Norman Hanson of Cromwell on August 10, 1939 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Clara was a member of the Cromwell Methodist Church, the Carlton County Historical Society, the Carlton County DFL, Farmer's Union and the Minnesota Retired Teacher's Association. Clara enjoyed writing prose and poetry and published a book of her favorite poems in 1987. Clara was preceded in death by her husband, Senator Norman Hanson; brothers, Oscar and George Smith; and sisters, Helga and Eunice Smith and Genevieve Cutler. Clara is survived by her three sons, Norman (Sandra) and Rolf (Jean) Hanson both of Roseville and Hans (Carol) Hanson of Cromwell; her brother, Roger Smith of Anoka; granddaughters, Angela (Craig) Wilson of Corinth, Texas, Emily Hanson of Milwaukee, Jennifer Hanson of Champaign, Illinois and Laura Hanson of Anoka; grandsons, Eric (Jody) Hanson of Victoria, Minnesota and Steven Hanson of Roseville; three great grandchildren, Nathan and Lana Hanson of Victoria, Minnesota and Trevor Wilson of Corinth, Texas; as well as by many nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held on May 30, 2006 in the United Methodist Church in Cromwell. Burial in Riverside Cemetery in Barnum. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Cromwell United Methodist Church Building Fund. Arrangements entrusted to Northland Funeral Home in Cloquet.