Doris Hansen

Doris Irene Mork Hansen, 91, died peacefully on September 10. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Sept. 17 at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Bismarck, with Pastor Allen Wagner officiating. Lunch will be served at noon. Internment will follow at Mandan Union Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thurs., Sept. 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Eastgate Funeral Service in Bismarck and one hour prior to the service at the church. Doris was born on Dec. 9, 1918 in Breien, North Dakota, the daughter of pioneer parents Andrew and Gudrun Oss Mork, immigrants from Norway. When she was eight years old, the family moved to Mandan and later to a farm north of Mandan, and she graduated from Mandan High School in 1936. Doris was employed by the telephone company in Mandan. Doris’ father served in the North Dakota legislature in the Non-Partisan League. Doris married Vern Alverno Hansen in 1943, and they moved to Bismarck in 1946 where they lived for 64 years raising five children, until recently moving to a nursing home in Sauk Centre, MN to join Vern and to be near family. Having a keen interest in education, she worked for 22 years in the Bismarck School System as a librarian at three schools, sharing her love of reading with the students who loved her in return. Her community service extended to many organizations, including First Lutheran Church serving on the council and as librarian and Sunday School teacher, Sons of Norway as librarian, the North Dakota Heritage Center as a docent, and American Mothers, as a candidate for North Dakota Mother of the Year award. Doris is survived by her husband of 67 years, Vern; her sister Genevieve Hathaway of Lacy, WA; two sons: Wayne Sara Hansen of Milwaukee WI and Glenn Paula Hansen of Hilo, Hawaii; three daughters: LaRayne Rich Betlach of Sauk Centre MN, Linda Kurt Falkman of Minneapolis MN, and Carla Larry Baczkowski of Detroit MI; one grandson Matthew Baczkowski, four granddaughters Holly Blondin, Jennifer Jeremy Lyons, Laura and Lisa Hansen and four great grandchildren Garrett and Reese Blondin, Vivian and Ian Lyons. Doris was preceded in death by her sister, Bernice Mork Kraft; and her brother, Andy Mork. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to: First Lutheran Church in Bismarck, North Dakota Heritage Center or the Celiac Association.

Doris Hansen

December 9, 1918 - September 10, 2010