Obituary of Marlys June Hansen

Marlys June Hansen went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, November 15, 2022 surrounded by her family. She was born September 18, 1927, in Gilmore City, Iowa, to Fred and Elma (Abens) Folkers. Marlys was the oldest of four children, two brothers and a sister. She was baptized on October 9, 1927 and confirmed March 29, 1943 at St. John's Lutheran Church of Lizard Township near Palmer, Iowa. The small country church is still running today. Marlys' family had rented a farm when she was first born. A barn fire caused the loss of all the farm equipment, so the family moved to the town of Pioneer, near Gilmore City, where Fred worked at a filling station. Marlys always helped her mother in the home, which helps account for her wonderful baking skills. Marlys and her brother hauled water in large cream cans with their little red wagon from a hand pump well in Pioneer. They had a family car and lived eight or so miles from Gilmore City. She attended Pioneer School through the ninth grade. There were many relatives in the area, so Marlys spent much time at her aunt and uncle's farm and loved her four girl cousins. Marlys' best friends were her cousins, and they had a strong influence on her life. Then the family moved to Des Moines, where Marlys attended North High School, graduating in 1945. Shortly after graduating, Marlys and a classmate took the train to Denver to find work. While in Denver, Marlys met LaVerne (Pete) Hansen at a dance. The couple married June 15, 1947 in Denver. They lived on a farm near Grant, Nebraska for two years, then bought their own farm in Colorado southwest of Holyoke. LaVerne and Marlys had two sons, Dale and Keith. During those years on the farm, they raised wheat and later irrigated corn. They had a busy life due to custom farming as well as their own farm. The Hansen's also leased land and ran cattle most of their farming years. In 1976 they bought a ranch in Wyoming for cattle. The whole family worked hard, and Marlys says she was never bored. In 1986, the couple purchased a car wash in Fort Collins, which they ran from 1989 to 1998. They also bought an acreage with a small creek in Buckhorn Canyon west of Masonville, Colorado where Marlys finally got her mountain home. Marlys feels blessed with time spent with her family, time in the mountains and time with her many friends. She loved baking cookies for her grandkids, and she baked bread in a bread machine when she was 95. She also enjoyed her many years working and running the clothing bank at St. John's Lutheran Church in Fort Collins. Marlys made many visits to shut-ins and those who live alone often times taking them a meal. Marlys moved to Burlington, Colorado in March of 2019 and resided in a house between Dale & Shelley and Jeremy and Whitney Hansen until her death. She is preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Elma Folkers, her husband, LaVerne and her brothers, Merlin Folkers, Lee Folkers and sister, Lucinda Palma. She leaves to mourn her passing, sons, Dale (Shelley) Hansen of Burlington, CO and Keith Hansen, of Fort Collins, CO, four grandchildren, Marcy (Matt) Forbes of Arvada, CO, Mindy (John) Morris of Hudson CO, Jeremy (Whitney) Hansen of Burlington, CO and Josh (Stacia) Hansen of Denver, CO, eight great-grandchildren, Hunter, Hayden, Natasha, Colton, Lear, Landric, Rhett and Luke. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Bev Folkers of Des Moines, Iowa and her cousin Evelyn Oberhelman of Gilmore City, Iowa, nephew, Steve Folkers, Indianola, Iowa as well as many other nieces and nephews. Her caregivers, Romelia Ornelas, Shannon Finch, Stacey Monroe, Dr. Pimentel, Kindra Mulch, Bre Carlson and Pastor Bill Viergutz. These care givers were all very special to her. Through the years, she was blessed with so many dear friends. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association and may be left at Love Funeral Homes and Monuments in Burlington, Colorado.