Belva Mae Hanson, 88

Belva Mae Hanson, 88, passed away on Monday, April 24, 2006, at Brendan House in Kalispell, after a brief illness.

Belva was born July 17, 1917, in a dugout house on a homestead 3 miles south of the Canadian line, north of Havre, the daughter of George Raymond and Lillian (Crosley) Campbell. Belva and her sister, Bert, spent their early years on homesteads north of Havre. The girls moved into town when they started high school. When Belva was 14 years old, her family moved to Echo Lake where she and her sister graduated from Bigfork High School in Bigfork. It was there she met and later married Ernie Hanson on July 18, 1935, whose family had a farm on the lake.

She and Ernie spent the first few years of their marriage on the farm where their son, Skip, was born. After they left the farm they spent time on Desert Mountain Lookout and Java Ranger Station. During World War II the family moved to Longview, Wash., where Ernie worked in the aluminum industry. When they returned to the Flathead Valley, they lived a short time in Kalispell and then moved to Coram. During their years in Coram, Belva worked for Otto Fehlberg at his general store. During the years of the Hungry Horse Dam construction, Belva worked for Bill and Nonie Krall at the Pennywise Drug in Hungry Horse.

In 1960 Belva and Ernie moved to Great Falls. Belva started work with Dr. David McKay and became an optical technician. During those years she enjoyed bird and antelope hunting and spending time during harvest driving the grain truck for her family, who had a farm north of Havre. In 1974 they returned to Kalispell. She followed her trade working for Dr. John Stephans until her retirement, at which time she and Ernie spent several years traveling in their motor home. She was the driver and Ernie the navigator. Their favorite trips were to the coast where they loved deep sea fishing.

For the last few years Belva was a daily visitor to Ernie, who spent six years at Brendan House. At the time of her passing, Belva had been a resident of Buffalo Hill Terrace for the past year.

Belva and Ernie were longtime members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Over the years she knit many, many sweaters for the mission program of the church.

Belva was preceded in death by her husband, Ernie, in November of 2005; her parents; infant twin brothers; and one sister.

She is survived by her son, Ernest 'Skip' Hanson, and wife, Marie, of Columbia Falls; a brother, Leslie 'Bud' Campbell of Havre; four grandsons, Hal Hanson, Steve Hanson and wife, Kim, Neil and wife, Sandra, all of Columbia Falls, and Chris and wife, Liz Hanson, of Kalispell; 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson; as well as several very special nieces and nephews and many friends.

Funeral services for Belva will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 1, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Kalispell, with Pastor Larry Stappler officiating. Burial will follow services at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls. There will be no visitation.

Memorials may be made to a charity of choice.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Belva's family.