Joyce Hanson

Joyce Hanson of Dawson died on Friday, February 16, 2024 at Johnson Memorial Care Center in Dawson at the age of 78.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 3 PM at Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home Chapel in Dawson.

Visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.   All are invited to Joyce's daughter Tracy's home immediately following the service.

Joyce Elaine Howe was born in Winnebago, MN on May 17, 1945 to Emmet and Marcella (Digman) Howe. She was baptized and confirmed at The Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Winnebago. Joyce attended and graduated from Winnebago High School in 1963 where she played the flute and piccolo in the marching band and was involved in home economics where she was named “Susie Homemaker.” Joyce also enjoyed adventures in her dad’s Mercury when she started driving. Following high school, she attended Fairview Hospital’s X-Ray Technician course in the Twin Cities.

Joyce was united in marriage to Donald Hanson on December 11, 1965. They were blessed with two children, Tracy and Tom. The family would make their home in Minnetonka, Dawson, and Eden Prairie before returning to the Dawson area for their retirement years. Joyce worked in the X-ray field at Johnson Memorial Health Services in the 80’s while her children were in high school. Wonderful memories were made while employed at the hospital as well as lifelong friendships built. Joyce also held various office and manufacturing positions throughout her working years.

Joyce enjoyed seeing Tracy and Tom establish successful careers and was so proud of their accomplishments. She took a great interest in what they were doing and was their biggest fan and supporter. Joyce loved every minute that she could spend with her grandchildren and always looked forward to their next visit. Many fond memories were made at the farm through the years where family and close friends would gather for great meals prepared by Joyce from her abundant vegetable garden where great laughs were shared.

Joyce was a spunky lady who loved a good Bruce Springsteen concert. She enjoyed attending live performing arts events and watching recorded performances on television. She was passionate about gardening and created beautiful flower gardens for all of us to enjoy. Joyce had a strong Christian faith and enjoyed attending worship services. Joyce was a lover of cats and any pet that lived with Joyce was a lucky one as they received lots of love and attention. She liked visiting the zoo and was a big fan of monkeys and frogs. Joyce enjoyed feeding the backyard birds and observing nature and wildlife around her. She kept up to date on the daily news and current affairs. She was always ready to lend a listening ear and provide candid input and suggestions that always made sense. She kept busy in her later years putting together over one hundred jig saw puzzles and was always ready to play a lively game of Skip-Bo.

Joyce is survived by her children: Tracy Hanson, Dawson, MN, and Tom (Kim) Hanson, Emily, MN; grandchildren: Easton Hanson, Wyatt Hanson, Sophia Hanson, Cole Hanson, Matt (Olivia) Lambert, Miranda (Taylor) Halvorson, Marcus (Shelby) Lambert, and Mikayla Lambert; great-grandsons: Everett Lambert, Archer Lambert, and Atlas Lambert; brother-in-law: Wes (Marilyn) Hanson, Merrifield, MN; sisters-in- law: Shirley Hanson, Madison, MN, and Kathleen Hanson, Edina, MN; as well as extended family and close friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Emmet and Marcella Howe; husband Donald; in-laws Winfred and Judith Hanson; and brothers-in-law Marlyn Hanson and Richard Hanson. Memorials preferred to Johnson Memorial Health Services or Dawson-Boyd Arts Association.

Blessed be her memory on a life well lived.