Julia Hansen
1912 - 2016

At the end of a long life, we are saddened to announce the passing of Julia Berntina Hansen on Friday, January 1, 2016 at the age of 103 years at the Estevan Regional Nursing Home, Estevan, SK.

Julia Berntina was born on October 26, 1912 on the family farm north of Torquay. She was the 9th child and the youngest of Haakon and Anna Shjelstead. Julia attended school at Gilbertson.

Julia met and married Carl Oliver Hansen on October 9, 1936 and to that marriage four children were born - three daughters, Carren, Avis, Bonna and one son Brian.

They tried farming in the Torquay district and later decided to move to Saskatoon. Carl drove taxi and later became a conductor for CNR railway. They moved to Regina and lived there for about five years then moved to Estevan.

Carl and Julia joined Trinity Lutheran Church in 1949 and both were instrumental in building the new church on 2nd street, which later burned down. She taught Sunday School, VBS, was advisor for LDR and LCR, and was active in the Ladies Aid. She sang in the choir along with Carl and all three daughters. She was the first president of the Regina District conference for the then known as WMF (Women’s Missionary Federation) later named ELW (Evangelical Lutheran Women). She attended many National conventions in Saskatoon and Camrose, AB as their guest speaker. She boarded many of her nieces and nephews to help pay for the cinder block house Carl built on 1st Street which is still standing.
Her family was always involved in church and she was always taking cakes and cookies to something else other than at home.

When Carl passed away in 1993, she moved to Trinity Towers and enjoyed her life there till she fell and broke her neck and had to wear a halo on her head that weighed 30 pounds, on the little body of 100 pounds. She loved to read and spent many hours with her nose in a book. She enjoyed her Trinity Tower family and they enjoyed her wit and her love of life. She then moved to Long Term Care in 2010 and later to the Estevan Regional Nursing Home in 2011, where she always said “Queen Elizabeth would not have been taken care of any better than she was." She loved the nurses and care givers there and they loved her. She never complained about anything, the care or the food.

She enjoyed several trips with Bonna to Edmonton and Calgary. At the age of 95 she said to Bonna, “I can’t believe I’m still flying around at the age of 95.” She always stopped in Regina to visit grandson Kelly and family. Whenever the grandkids travelled with her they would say it was always like a history lesson, she knew so much about the country and was proud of her community. She loved her great grandchildren but had a special place in her heart for Calvin. Her face always lit up when he touched her arm and said “hello Gramma.” She was proud of the accomplishments of her children, grandsons and great grandchildren.

She enjoyed and celebrated her 90th and 100th birthdays at Trinity with all her relatives and friends who could attend. She celebrated every year after and enjoyed her 103rd at the nursing home on October 26, 2015.

Left to mourn are her three daughters, Carren Dzuba, Edmonton, AB, Avis Johnson, Dixonville, AB and Bonna (Albert) Tarnes, Estevan, SK; grandchildren, Kevin (Allana) Dzuba, Sheri, Stephen (Tamara), Timothy (Dorothy) Johnson, Jo-ann (Michael) Drotar, Kelly (Gina) Lowes, Mark (Rhonda) , Calvin Tarnes and Karen Johnson; great grandchildren, Riley, McKenzie, Kennedy Lowes, Logan, Evan, Keaten Tarnes, Nathan and Jeromy Johnson, Janelle and Rachael Johnson, Dallas and Tyler Dzuba, Shawna and Sonja Neighbors, Trevor Hansen, Brent Slette and numerous nieces and nephews. Julia will be sadly missed and often referred to as “a little sweetheart."

Julia was predeceased by husband Carl; son Brian (Lynn); grandson Derris Johnson; two sons-in-law, Harold Johnson and Jerold Dzuba; and eight siblings, Hjalmer, Emma, Anton, Theodore, Mary, Sophia, Nora and Arthur. She was also predeceased by four nieces, Marlis Buck, Lois Madden, Norma Steinke and Leila Pederman. God Bless the memory of Julia.

A Funeral Service was held on Thursday, January 7, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Estevan, at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Stewart Miller officiating. Lunch was held in the Trinity Lutheran Church social hall immediately following the service. Interment took place at Souris Valley Memorial Gardens following the lunch.

Those wishing to make donations in Julia’s memory may do so directly to the New Estevan Regional Nursing Home, 1201 – 2nd Street, Estevan, SK, S4A 0M1.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Hall Funeral Services, Estevan.