Avis Hansen, 91, of Winner, SD passed away on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023 at the Winner Regional Long-Term Care Center in Winner.
Funeral service was held on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the Winner Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.
Avis was born at her grandparent’s home in Tripp County on March 18, 1931, to Lela (Hopkins) and Oscar Papke. She was the oldest of her 7 siblings and the first grandchildren born into the Hopkins family.
She attended various country schools during her grade school years. While attending high school in Winner she boarded at “Grandma” Olsen’s with other high school girls, many who became life-long friends. But Avis had to work after school to earn her board and room. One of the after-school jobs was for Dailey’s Variety Store where her boss, Don Dailey, taught her to figure how much paint or wallpaper was needed to refinish a room.
After graduating in 1949 she married Arthur E. Hansen on Sept. 15, 1949. Their marriage was blessed with four children who became her new “job”.
During the 1960’s Avis was volunteered by Art to make pies for the bowling alley, then owned by Stan Ainsworth and family. The ladies’ leagues were recipients of some tasty lemon meringue pies. In the 1970’s Avis worked with Roy (Jack) Kelley and his Captain Clean Service, doing tons of fire and smoke insurance jobs.
After Art passed away, she spent her days working with her daughter at the Sewing “B” in the same Main Street building which had housed Dailey’s Variety in the 1940’s. When that building was sold, the fabric store was moved up the street to a new location which, ironically, the same building she had delivered pies to in the 1960’s.
Avis was a charter member of the Winner Orthodox Presbyterian church and raised her family in the church. She helped in every way possible and was told by the first pastor she would teach Sunday School. She taught both Sunday School and Vacation Bible School until she couldn’t keep up with the youngsters. She so wanted to introduce the children to Christ as their Savior, but she left them converting to the Holy Spirit.
Avis was preceded in death by her parents, husband Art, daughter Cheryl, two sisters, Neva and Janis, and one brother-in-law, Darrel Bettcher.
She is survived by daughter Sandra (Charles) York, sons Mark Hansen and Jon Hansen, sisters Peggy Bettcher, Merva (Phil) Cobb, Judy Papke and brothers Bill (Donna) Papke and Larry (Ruthellen) Papke, 6 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.
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