Janice Hanson
June 28, 1930 – Oct. 6, 2022
Janice L. Hanson, the
daughter of Leedina A. E.
(Nelson) and Jason E.
Skotland was born June
28, 1930, in Willow City,
North Dakota. She died
peacefully at the age of 92
on Thursday, October 6,
2022, at the Rolette Com-
munity Care Center in
Rolette, North Dakota.
Janice was raised and
attended school in Willow
City. She continued her
education at Minot State
University, earning a
teaching degree. On July
20, 1950, she and Henry
L. Hanson were united in
marriage. Jan and Hank
initially resided in the
Willow City area and were
blessed with two
daughters, Heidi and
Becky. The family moved
to Minot for three years,
returning to Willow City
for a year. They then lived
in Dunseith for three
years before purchasing
Henry’s family farm in
rural Willow City in 1960.
Janice was an accom-
plished pianist and an or-
ganist for churches in
Minot, Dunseith, and 50
years in Willow City. She
provided piano lessons
for many students and
shared her music at the
Veterans Home, other care
facilities, weddings, fun-
erals, schools, and special
events. Janice was a
teacher of elementary stu-
dents in Dunseith and
Willow City, continuing
to substitute teach after
retirement. She thorough-
ly enjoyed resuming her
educational career by
teaching kindergarten stu-
dents for several years in
Willow City’s “Little
White School House”.
Janice and Henry en-
joyed traveling, from tent
camping to campers, bus
trips, fishing in Canada, to
visiting relatives across
the country. She was an
avid outdoorswoman and
a smart hunter, beginning
with her father and broth-
er and continuing with
her husband and girls.
She knew and respected
nature, whether it be ap-
preciating birds, animals,
plants, flowers, or long
walks in the country. Jan-
ice was an impeccable
seamstress and quilter.
She enjoyed gardens,
flowers, and bird watch-
ing. She was quiet,
reserved, creative, and
artistic, with a wonderful
sense of decorating her
home. She was talented in
the kitchen making deli-
cious meals, baked goods,
and especially desserts.
Her family meant a lot to
her, and it was reciprocat-
ed because Grandma Jan
was thoughtful, patient,
and incredibly kind.
Grandma Jan was so
thoughtful.
Janice is survived by
her husband of 72 years,
Henry of Willow City;
daughters, Heidi (Bob)
Danielson of Willow City
and Becky (Terry) Elling-
son of Devils Lake;
grandchildren, Skot (Min-
dy) Danielson of Sartell,
Minnesota, Troy Daniel-
son (Melissa Maher) of
Willow City, Tristan
(Josh) Johnson of Valley
City, Erika (Kelly) Hamre
of Hampden and Emily
(Kurt) Ellingson
Wensmann of Devils
Lake; great grandchildren,
Olivia and Lily Danielson,
Jayden, Rylyn, Piper, and
Kambry Johnson, Elly and
Emma Hamre, and Henry
and Oliver Wensmann;
sister-in-law, Ethel Esten-
son of Lakeville, Minneso-
ta; nephew, Bruce (Bev)
Skotland of Selah, Wash-
ington; and other nieces,
nephews, relatives, and
friends. She was prede-
ceased by her parents,
in-laws, and brother, Cal-
vin (Opal) Skotland.
To honor Janice’s
wishes, there will be no
formal services. Private
burial will take place at
the Willow City Memorial
Cemetery at a later date.
Arrangements with the
Anderson Funeral Home
of Rugby. Online registry:
funeralsbyanderson.com.