Anna A. Hanson, age 95, of Delano died Saturday, March 27, 2010, at Golden Living Center of Excelsior. Since March 27, 2006, “Ann” as her Delano friends knew her, had lived in assisted living facilities in the metro area, returning to Delano and The Legacy of Delano for the last two months of 2009.

Ann was born July 22, 1914 to Hjalmar (Jim) and Mildred (Gustavson) Swanberg in Norquay, Saskatchewan, Canada. She weighed three pounds when she was born in a small log home. Ann and her family emigrated from Canada to Chicago, Illinois when she was ten years old. In 1931 she moved to Delano with her family. She liked to tell the story of going to Charlie Motzko’s store after having frequented Marshall Field’s with her aunt in Chicago – quite a contrast.

In the same year in Delano she married Roy Hanson, whom she had known in Chicago. He was a “Norwegian bachelor,” who lived down the street from the Swanberg family in the suburb of Maywood, Illinois. Roy and Ann owned and operated a couple of bakeries and eventually a bakery and coffee shop on the main street of Delano, known fittingly as the Home Bakery; the couple and their family of three daughters lived in an apartment behind the bakery. Ann and Roy had many wonderful friends among other business owners, who also had their stores in Delano’s then bustling downtown. The young couples liked nothing better than playing cards, “500,” after the stores closed. Roy and Ann also enjoyed the companionship of friends at their church home of Mt. Olive Lutheran. Ann was for many years an active member of the Mt. Olive Women’s Club, where she also enjoyed many friendships.

Ann continued playing her favorite card game for many, many years, especially when her daughter, Eleanor Bruhn, was her partner at the Monday night Card Marathon at the school. She also enjoyed her membership in the General Federated Women’s Club of Delano and had a lot of fun attending out of town meetings and conventions.

Ann and Roy moved to Plymouth after their girls graduated from Delano High School. After Roy died in 1969 Ann moved back to Delano and once again began clerking in stores in Delano. Prior to leaving Delano she clerked at the Red Owl grocery store, Kritzeck’s Variety or Five & Dime store, Lebovsky’s Dry Goods store, and Lundeen’s Clothing Store, Upon her return she clerked at Schmidt’s Red & White, and the same grocery store when it was owned by Bob Stabenow. Ann was among the first, if not the first resident, of the Crow River Villa, where she was employed to assist the first two administrators. She retired at age 86.

In addition to her husband, Roy, Ann was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter, Eleanor Bruhn, sisters, Mildred Polzin and Muriel Guilfoile and a very young brother, Jimmie. She is survived by her children, Ann Jackson of Costa Mesa, California, and Ruby Hanson of Plymouth, Minnesota; son-in-law, Clarence “Deacon” Bruhn of Delano; grandsons: Douglas Bruhn and Pat, daughters Allison and Jacque; Bradley Bruhn and Carol, daughters Kate and Claire; and Gregory Bruhn and Carol, daughters Ashlee and Meghan; and brother Fritz Swanberg and his wife Rosetta, and many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service was be held at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Delano on Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.. A reception and celebration of Anna’s life was be held at Mt. Olive following the service. Memorials preferred.