Obituary of Daleen Hansen

Joan Daleen Hansen was born on September 30, 1926, in Kansas City, Missouri. At nine months, she was adopted by Glen Clair Potts and Mary (Mae) Loretta Daly. Mae was from an Irish Chicago family, and Glen was a railroader from Kansas. In their early marriage, they lost six infants, so they were delighted to welcome their adopted baby daughter.

Books have always been center place in Daleen's life. Her mother, Mae, would take Daleen to the library frequently. When she was thirteen-years-old, she became ill with scarlet fever. Daleen was unable to attend school for over a month. During that time, she read half of the encyclopedias at her home. She also developed an interest in reading about history, especially English history. While attending school in Colorado Springs, Daleen was elected editor of her junior high school newspaper, a position she quite enjoyed.

 In 1942, the Rock Island Railroad promoted her father, Glen, to Depot Agent in Genoa.  Along with the promotion came a move to the plains of Colorado. This was a tremendous change for Daleen, who had always lived in the city. However, it was through this change that Daleen met the love of her life, Harry John Hansen. After Daleen graduated from Genoa High School, she began nurse's training in Colorado Springs, while Harry joined the Navy and was stationed in California. Daleen completed one year of training before being married.

On January 30, 1945, Harry and Daleen were married at her parents' home in Genoa. Daleen went to California to be with her new husband. When Harry was discharged from the Navy, they moved back to Genoa, where the many adventures of a city girl living in the country began.

Their early story began as they drove a 1934 Ford that took almost as much oil as gas from California to Colorado. They also adopted a dog, Tia, on their way. Many stops were made along the route to put oil in the car and to let the dog out. While living in a four-room sod house, the blizzard of 1948 left them snowed-in for three weeks. The only entertainment during the storm and the aftermath was a continuous game of monopoly. Harry and Daleen never played monopoly again nor spoke of it with any affection. It was also during their early years together that Daleen tried to learn to milk cows and did learn to drive a car.  Both were undertakings of comical proportions requiring much patience from Harry.

Later in the spring of 1948, Harry and Daleen bought the Conoco gas station in Genoa and moved from the country into Genoa. In 1955, they traded the Conoco station for the farm, where they lived for 59 years. Daleen enjoyed cooking and sewing. She was a sewing 4-H leader for ten years. During this time, she made many dresses for her daughters and granddaughters. Daleen, without a pattern, sewed the wedding dress of one of Lori's friends.

Harry and Daleen raised their four children on the farm and enjoyed many family trips. They welcomed grandchildren, especially Aline and Shana, who spent a great deal of their childhood on the farm. As the first set of grandchildren were raised, they enjoyed visits from more grandchildren. Once their children were grown, Harry and Daleen continued to travel in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.

Harry and Daleen were involved with the Genoa United Methodist Church. After the death of their son Tim, they donated the beautiful stained-glass panes which today adorn the entry of the church above the doors. Daleen was active in the church throughout her life, first as a leader for the Youth Group as her children were growing up, and as a member of the United Methodist Women.

Daleen valued education and instilled a love of reading and writing in her children and grandchildren. She often took her children to the library in Hugo until she began working as the librarian for the Lincoln County Bookmobile in 1967. Daleen was a voracious reader, and even when she couldn't read any longer due to macular degeneration, she always listened to books on tape until her passing.

Daleen put her passion to pen contributing to the Grassland Anthology with her fellow bibliophile, Terry Blevins. In early 2014, Harry and Daleen made the difficult decision to move from their home into Carla's Cluster Care Assisted Living. While in assisted living, with the help of Terry Blevins, she completed writing the story about her mother titled Her Story.

In March of 2015, Harry passed, and in December of 2015, Daleen moved to the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Simla. We didn't think she would be with us much longer; however,  the excellent care at Good Samaritan restored her to health. We will be forever grateful to the Good Samaritan Nursing Home for giving us almost four more years with our mother.

Despite being farther away from her friends and family, she had frequent visitors. Dean Howe, a cherished life-long family friend, went to Simla weekly, never missing a week unless the roads were bad. Dean's kindness will not be forgotten. Ross and Lori visited at least weekly. When Lori visited, she would also call Christy, who sang Daleen's favorite songs to her.

Daleen was preceded in death by her husband Harry of 70 years, and their son Tim. She is survived by her children: Lori Hansen of Bennett, Colorado; Christy Cook (Fred) of Salt Springs Island, British Columbia, Canada; Ross Hansen (Sharon) of Genoa, Colorado; five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Instead of flowers, Daleen's family requests donations to the Colorado Talking Book Library 180 Sheridan Blvd, Denver, CO 80226-8101 or the Genoa United Methodist Church.