Margaret Elizabeth Hansen

Margaret Elizabeth Hansen Margaret Elizabeth Hansen went to be with her Lord on Sunday, February 5, 2012, 54 days shy of her 100th birthday. Margaret was a woman of deep faith, determination and generosity. “I can’t begin to enumerate our blessings. Thanks to God,” she wrote about her many valued relationships with friends and family. Margaret was born in Olympia on March 30, 1912, to Richard Tucker Lindsay and Elizabeth Ward Lindsay. She had five brothers and two sisters, all of whom went on ahead of her and were there to welcome her home. She attended Roosevelt Grade School, Olympia High School (1930), Dietz Business College — where she took courses in journalism — and studied stenotype through La Salle Extension University. She had a varied and productive career, with work in the Extension Service, Auditor's Office, the Port of Olympia, Panorama City Nursing Home, and — beginning at age 55 — at the Department of Labor and Industries’ elevator section. She retired in 1979 at age 67. Margaret married Leonard Theodore Johnson on September 27, 1941. Her daughter, Mary Elizabeth, was born in 1947. Leonard was killed on the job on April 25, 1950, while working as a longshoreman at the Port of Olympia. Margaret married Leslie Jens Hansen on July 27, 1951. They lived for six years at the turkey farm owned by Leslie's brother Viggo. They built a home in a wooded patch near Littlerock in 1957; Margaret lived there until the last few years of her life. Margaret and Leslie opened their life and home to her niece Loretta Myers and her daughters Christy and Rosemary; her niece Joy Chapman (Skalicky); her niece Linda James; and foster daughters Melba Lacy (Howell), and Melba’s sister Amelia. Their sister Shirley also lived with Margaret and Leslie for a while. Margaret and Leslie enjoyed a life together until his death on January 25, 1994. Margaret was active for 60 years in the Littlerock Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school. She also served as PTA president, was PTA Mother-of-the-Year, a 4-H leader, and was in the Margaret K Circle. Margaret and Leslie were founding members of the Littlerockers Square Dance Club. After retirement, Margaret enjoyed bowling, square dancing, pinochle and trips to Hawaii with friends. Margaret is survived by her daughter Mary Briggs (Dave), her almost daughter Janis Korte (Richard) and the many children that she loved and raised as her own. She also held a special place in her heart for her many precious nieces and nephews and their children and her foster grandson Shane Barton. Margaret had a special love for the many wonderful dogs and cats that enriched her life. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 17, 2012, at First United Methodist Church of Olympia, 1224 Legion Way S.E., Olympia. Memorial donations may be made to the Littlerock Methodist Church. PO Box 8, Littlerock, WA 98556-0008. Please leave memories of Margaret or condolences for the family in the Guestbook below.