Barbara Ann Hanson

80, of Phoenix passed away on May 2, 2014. Barbara was born in Stoughton, Wisconsin. She spent most of her youth in Stoughton before moving with her family to Tucson. After completing high school, she began work as a legal secretary in Tucson, where she met her beloved husband, Merle Lee Hanson. Merle and she lived in Tucson, Wisconsin, and Idaho before settling in Phoenix. Barbara continued to work as a legal secretary until her retirement in 1996. After Merle passed away in 1974, Barbara supported her four children, keeping the family united and making sure that all family members had the opportunity to pursue their dreams. She enjoyed life with her family, and loved doing puzzles, crosswords and word games. She also adored her pets, and had a quick and ready sense of humor. Barbara was a member of the Sons of Norway, and collected hand carved trolls and shared recipes and stories of her Norwegian heritage with her family. She will be dearly missed. Barbara is preceded in death by her husband Merle, her parents, Albert and Bergliot Heggestad, her half-brother Richard and her half-sister Margaret. She is survived by her sister Carol Davis, her children Ellen (Tipton) Cummings, Scott (Mina), Kristin, and Jeffrey (Selina), her grandchildren Brian (Kazuyo), Carrie (Matt) Cummings-Roberts, Andrew, Tracye, Kathleen, Michael, and Daniel, and her great-grandchildren Hannah, Natalie, Hiro, and Justin. Services took place at Paradise Sunset Chapel Funeral Home on May 9, and Barbara was laid to rest at East Lawn Palms Cemetery in Tucson May 10. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Valley

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