Obituary - Emma Swinney Hansen

Emma Hansen, 96 years of age, a retired housewife and former resident of Gildford, MT, died of natural causes at Northern Montana Care Center Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, at 11 a.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church with Ila McClenahan officiating; burial at Highland Cemetery.

Memorials in Emma's name may be made to the North Star Foundation, P.O. Box 14 Rudyard, MT 59540, or to the charity of the donor's choice.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Please visit Emma's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Emma was born July 13, 1921, to Jennings W. and Bessie M. Dezell Swinney in Engen, British Columbia, in a log cabin. She was the eldest of four children, with one brother Jack and two sisters, Eunice and Esther. She moved to Montana in 1923, later graduating from Gildford High School.

Emma married Evan R. Hansen June 18, 1944. They had two children, Dick and Zona.

Emma was a faithful housewife, cooking countless meals for the family and farm hands. In her later years, she worked at the Gildford Senior Center serving meals. She enjoyed doing her "hardanger" and making quilts. She was a member of the Hingham Lutheran Church.

She is survived by her children, Dick (Sue) Hansen of Gildford and Zona (Louie) Harris of Great Falls; three grandsons, Todd (Angie) Hansen and Troy Hansen of Gildford, and Kip (Carrie) Harris of Boulder, MT; two granddaughters, Kim Ferda of Great Falls and Tracy (Bill) Huebsch of Havre; 14 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Esther Griffith of Bozeman.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Evan; brother, Jack Swinney; sister Eunice Staples; and one great-granddaughter.