Esther Hansen

Esther Ann (Ingvalson) Hansen, 92, of Blooming Prairie passed away October 29, 2019 at Prairie Manor Care Center.  She was born March 21, 1927 on the family farm in Mower County and was the daughter of Bennett O. and Hilda (Nelson Ellis) Ingvalson.  Esther Ann graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1944 and Austin Teacher Training in 1945.  She taught in rural schools in Mower and Steele Counties.  On June 5, 1946, she was united in marriage to Carlo J. Hansen at the First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie.  They moved to the Hansen family farm north of Blooming Prairie where they were Registered Holstein dairy farmers.  She had a large garden on the farm and liked to feed calves and help with field work.

She was involved in church activities for the First Lutheran Church and served as an officer, was President of Music Mothers for Blooming Prairie High School, and served as a Steele County 4-H leader for 8 years.  Also, Esther Ann was Secretary of the Blooming Prairie and Steele County Farmers Union organizations.  After selling their farm in 1983, Carlo and Esther Ann moved into town and spent 20 winters at Winter Ranch Resort in Alamo, TX, where she worked as the Activity Director for 7 years – a role she dearly loved.  In 2002, she moved to Heather Haus in Blooming Prairie.  She enjoyed baking and cooking, playing cards and bingo, solving crossword puzzles, and reading.  Also, she relished social time with family and friends.

Surviving are three sons, Arthur Hansen, New York City; Dr. Leslie Hansen, St. Paul, MN; and Brian (Peggy) Hansen, Fridley, MN; a daughter, Linda Hansen, Blooming Prairie; a son-in-law, David Fierro, Las Vegas, NV; two grandsons, Christopher (Sabrina) Fierro, Phoenix, AZ; and Reed (Amanda) Hansen, Meriden, CT; a sister-in-law, Lorene Ingvalson, Austin; as well as nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Carlo Hansen in 2005, daughter Betty (Hansen) Fierro in 2015, daughter-in-law Mary Hansen in 2012, brother and sister-in-law Selmer and Gertrude Ellis, brother Clayton Ingvalson, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Lester and Myrtle Janke and Gordon and Ingrid Hanson, and nephew Harley Janke.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 2, at the First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie, with visitation at the church from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. the morning of the service.  Interment will be at the Blooming Prairie Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are by Worlein Funeral Home, Blooming Prairie.  Memorials are preferred to the First Lutheran Church or Prairie Manor Care Center.