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The Battlefords, Thursday, August 20, 2015 - Page 20
Hanson family reunion attracts 278 attendees By Margaret Parkinson, Janet Parkinson and Joanne Denton August long weekend (Aug. 1 and 2, 2015) the descendants of Henry and Unnie Hanson held a family reunion at the Bjelde Creek school yard south of Battleford. Henry and Unnie moved from Minnesota in 1905 to settle in the Willowmoor district south of Battleford. The Hansons had five daughters, Emma Leite, Johanna Denton, Sophia Berry, Henrietta Alm and Selma Gubbe. There were members of each family represented at the reunion, with 278 people registering over the two days. The oldest attendees were four grandchildren belonging to Henry and Unnie. They were Doris Neale, Sophy Parkinson, Cecilia Radchenko and Jack Alm, as well as Doris’s husband Willie and granddaughter-in-law Louise Denton. Youngest family members in attendance were: Una Ann Marie Blom (Emma’s great-greatgreat granddaughter who was born in Norway May, 2015), Amalynn Ida Hamilton (Emma’s great-great granddaughter, born June 2014), Duke Addison Workman (Emma’s great-great grandson, born April 2015),
Hanson Family - Henry and Unnie and their five daughters with husbands, John Alm, Charlie and Selma Gubbe, Sophy and Steve Berry, Lars and Emma Leite, Evison Denton. Sitting, Henrietta Alm, Unnie and Henry Hanson, Johanna Denton.
Henry and Unnie Hanson wedding - May 11, 1888. Photos submitted by Janet Parkinson
Ada Lynn Dorothy (Emma’s great-great granddaughter, born February 2015), Autumn Rain (Johanna’s greatgreat granddaughter, born September 2014), Jacqueline Ava Radchenko (Henrietta’s great-great granddaughter,
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born May 7, 2014) and Tiara Breigh Geraldine LambChmelnyk (Henrietta’s great-great granddaughter, born September 2014). The oldest living descendant of Henry and Unnie is Doris (Leite) Neale who was born Aug. 18, 1926 and the youngest is Paige Sophia Parkinson (Sophia’s great granddaughter) who was born July 24, 2015. The reunion began Saturday with a pot luck lunch. A wiener roast concluded a day of ball games, horse shoes, visiting and hand quilting. On Sunday, a pancake breakfast was hosted by the Bill Rayner family. Bill and Joan, along with Bill’s sisters Sandra and Pat, served up an excellent breakfast. After breakfast an interdenominational church service led by Pastor Todd Guggenmos (Errol Denton’s son-in-law) was held under the big tent. Music was led by Jack and Sharon Beloin (Leite) and Bill Rayner. Following the church service, there were Willowmoor Cemetery visits, more ball games, visiting and communal quilting. Sophia Parkinson had made a quilt top and it was set up on a quilt frame and members of the family all took a hand at quilting. For a donation to the graveyard maintenance fund you could get your name entered to take the quilt home. Carmen Gobert became the proud owner of the quilt at the end of the reunion. A delicious catered meal served by Second 2 None on Sunday evening concluded the reunion. Even though the reunion was officially over after the meal, visiting, laughs and reminiscing continued until later in the evening when everyone was forced to head home to homes from half a mile to thousands of miles away.
Oldest family members at the 2015 reunion: (l-r) Jack Alm, Willie Neale, Doris Neale, Sophia Parkinson (talking to Sandra Burden) and Cecilia Radchenko.
Quilting then: Mrs. Otto Gubbe, Emma Leite, Mrs. Underdahl, Unnie Hanson, Mrs. Perina Hanson, Mrs. Wilson taken at the Hanson house.
Quilting now: Margaret Parkinson, Sophia Parkinson, Sandra (Leite) Burden with this year’s quilt.