Blanche Mary Hansen, formerly of Breton, Alberta passed away at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre on Saturday, November 15, 2014 at the age of 101 years. Blanche was born in White Earth, North Dakota, USA on July 19, 1913. Blanche was predeceased in death by her husband (Howard) on November 4, 1982 and her father and mother (Archie & Cora Whipple) of Ravenscrag, Saskatchewan. She will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by her sons, Lee Hansen (Breton), Albert & Rodney Hansen (Sylvan Lake). Also mourning her passing are her daughters-in-law, Sharon Hansen & Elaine Hansen; her grandchildren, Sonia Burgett, Lori Bohachewski, Dina Hannon, Avery Hansen, Shelley Chaulk-Hansen, & Naomi Hansen, as well as her great grandchildren, Ryan, Tyler, Connor, Weston, Hannah, Taylor, Tate, Nevaen, Hudson, Ryder, Cash, Ever, Madison & Caitlyn. Blanche as a child grew up in Ravenscrag, SK and married Howard Hansen October 1, 1935 in Medicine Hat, AB. In 1950 she and family began moving around with the oil rigs (where Howard was employed), settling in Breton, Alberta in 1956. Recently and for many years, she lived at the Warburg Cloverleaf Manor. A Celebration of Blanche's Life will be held at the Faith Covenant Church, 4712 – 53 Avenue, Breton, Alberta on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Jeff Gooderham officiating. As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations in memory of Blanche, may be made to the Charity of choice. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com. Arrangements in care of Maryann Hansen, Funeral Director at Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, 6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040 or 1.800.481.7421.

EULOGY:

Blanche was born in White Earth, North Dakota on July 19, 1913-a little over a 101 yrs. ago. There’s been a lot of changes since then. Electricity was almost non existent, horse and buggy was more common than vehicles. Canada was just opening up to immigrants from all over. As a child, she moved with her parents (Archie & Cora Whipple) to Ravenscrag, Saskatchewan. She lived there most of her younger life, doing different jobs as she got older. One was being a waitress at Jack’s Café in Eastend, Saskatchewan. She tells of a disgruntled customer that wanted his steak done more. Blanche took it back to the kitchen, where the Greek cook was. He took the steak off the plate, threw it on the floor, jumped on it a few times, picked it up off the floor and put it back on the plate. She took it back out to the customer, who then ate it. Just a little warning for those of you that might consider returning their food for whatever reason. About the same time, she was dating a guy that had a Model T. He let her drive it, which was a big mistake. She lost control and rolled it. I don’t know if that was the end of the boyfriend, but she never drove after that.
Then a little later in life, she met and married a ranchhand, Howard. They were married Oct. 1, 1935 in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Times were tough in the “Dirty 30’s”and homes were more like old graineries rather than what we have today. Blizzards, droughts and millions of grasshoppers, but they made it thru to better times. Life went on until an oil rig (Arrow Drilling) came to Ravenscrag, about 1950. Howard, got hired on, first hauling coal for the boiler then as a roughneck. Then, with the whole family, she began life as a gypsy. Moving constantly, from town to town all over Saskatchewan and Alberta. At first, home was an 8’ by 24’ Schults trailer, smaller than most camper trailers today. In Frontier, Saskatchewan the townspeople stood on the road, stopping the rigworkers from coming into town. This was because of the rumors, possibly true, of the drinking and partying that went along with the oilpatch. In the end, the townfolks mellowed out and everyone got to be friends.
She moved around with family until arriving at Breton in 1956, where drilling for oil in the Pembina Field had just begun. First, the trailer was parked at Vi Westling’s, 2 to 3 miles north of town, then into town, then 2 miles north of town on highway 20 on a vacant ¼ section. That’s where Blanche became known for walking into town. She would walk into town to pick up groceries and mail. Remember, she rolled that Model T and would not drive. Sometimes she would walk twice a day. A lot of friendly local folks and Rusty’s Transport would pick her up, but she would never take a ride from a stranger. It was brought up many times over the yrs., the reason for her longevity was from all those miles she walked. That, along with the simple lifestyle she led. She would always eat after everyone else was finished, never ate fruit or veggies without peeling the skin off, never smoked, drank alcohol or cursed. But she did drink coffee strong enough that the spoon would stand up in it.
After her husband (Howard) passed away on Nov. 4, 1982, Blanche moved into Breton and lived there until going to the Warburg Cloverleaf Manor. She just loved it there.
Blanche loved country music and all the tabloid stories of the singers, loved her children and grandchildren. And keeping with her humour, most recently in the Red Deer Hospital, she said “ I guess I won’t be walking out of this joint alive”. Rest in Peace, you deserve it.