A Celebration of Life for Becky Hanson will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 11:00 AM at New City Center 3104 16th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Friends of the Boundary Waters (https://www.friends-bwca.org/), Upper Mississippi Audubon (https://umr.audubon.org/) or the North Star Chapter of the Sierra Club https://www.sierraclub.org/minnesota). Attendees are invited to come prepared to share their own memories of Becky, and come prepared to dance!
Rebecca Jane (Becky) Hanson, age 69, died of complications of Alzheimer’s disease on October 19, 2024. She is preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Verna Hanson, her husbands, Seth Garwood and Ernie Gunderson, and her nephew, Justin Conklin. She is survived by her children, Robin Garwood (Samantha Price) and Abbey Hanson of Saint Paul, MN; her siblings, Randy (Dawn) Sprout of Los Angeles, CA; Tom Hanson of Charlotte, NC; Eric (Sue) Hanson of Hudson, WI; Jenny (Tom) Boggess of Estherville, IA; and many nieces and nephews.
Becky grew up in Emmetsburg, Iowa. She attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Thomas Jefferson College in Michigan, and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Saint Thomas. Becky taught English for many years in the Saint Paul public schools, and especially enjoyed working with students on History Day projects and events.
Becky was a unique, free-spirited, funny person with a generous heart. She was a wonderful dancer, and loved to sing with friends and family. She cherished her time in nature, whether gardening, bird watching, biking, canoeing, or simply stopping to notice the beauty of flowers and trees. She was an avid reader for most of her life. She cared deeply for people, and expressed that care in her actions. Becky lived vibrantly and brought joy to those who knew her.
