Margrette Elizabeth Olsen Hansen
Margrette Elizabeth Olsen Hansen, 97, went to be with her Lord on Feb. 15, 2005, 10 days shy of her 98th birthday. She was born Feb. 25, 1907 in Sheyenne, N.D., to Ole Evenson Olsen and Mary Jane (Walton) Olsen.
Margrette was the third child in a family of 11 children. The family lived in Sheyenne for a time, but later moved to Ballard, near Seattle. Margrette attended Adams grade school, completing eight grades before family finances required her to help support the family. Her wages helped pay for clothes for her younger brothers. She eventually found a job working at a vegetable store for a Japanese man.
Dan Hansen worked across the road at a shingle mill. Margrette and Dan began dating, which meant they attended church together and went for long walks to Woodland Park Zoo, the government locks, Fisherman’s Wharf and the beach at Golden Gardens.
Margrette and Daniel Lewis Hansen were married in Ballard on March 3, 1923, and made their home in Port Angeles. Dan worked as a laundryman. With the difficult times of the Depression, Dan moved his family to Port Townsend, Ballard, Elma and on to La Push, where he bought fish off a barge for Doremus fisheries. Margrette was afraid of the water, but was always Dan’s faithful companion on his fishing trips.
Dan found a job as a house and commercial building mover, which brought the family back to Ballard. He then found work as a fish buyer and the family moved to Westport for a time and then went back to Port Townsend.
Their Port Townsend residence offered them fruit trees and a wonderful space for a garden and a cow. The Hansen’s began a mini-farm, which helped them through the depression. Margrette began canning salmon, beef, strawberries, applesauce and other local favorites. The children enjoyed a warm, loving home, never realizing they were a poor family. Margrette and Dan always worked together to provide a loving family.
In 1950, with their two daughters leaving home, Margrette and Dan moved to Oak Harbor. Together, they built a cabinet shop, with Dan doing the building and Margrette keeping up with the books. Dan died in 1989. Margrette continued living and working on her own until her health failed and for the past few years, had been a resident of Whidbey Island Manor.
Margrette’s children remember Mom for her love of God, studying her Bible, praying for others in need and being a loyal friend. She never raised her voice to any of her family members. She was a faithful letter writer and never forgot to send flowers to ill friends.
Margrette was a long-time member of the Oak Harbor First Baptist Church for more than 50 years and was also a member of the seniors Agape group at church, the Good Sam Club, the Oak Harbor Yacht Club, and the Sons of Norway, Terje Viken Lodge of Ballard.
Margrette is survived by two daughters, Ethel Ottesen of Oak Harbor and Margrette Kleiven and husband Harvey of Mill Creek, and one sister Dorthea Lillian Olsen of Silverlake. Seven grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren also survive. She was preceded in death by her husband Dan and nine brothers and sisters.
Graveside funeral services were held Feb. 18 at Crown Hill Cemetery, Seattle, with Rev. Harvey Kleiven officiating.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, Feb. 19, at 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Oak Harbor with Rev. David Lura officiating. A reception for family and friends will follow in Centennial Hall. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.
