Martha Louise Gilman Hansen
1922-2012
Martha Louise Gilman Hansen died from pneumonia on Dec. 20, surrounded with family. Martha, or ‘Gabby’ as named by her Grandchildren, was born in Dillon on March 31, 1922 to Louis and Lulu Palin/Gilman. She was the last child, a twin, of four other siblings.
Both of Martha’s parents died by the time she was 15 years of age. She lived with her Uncle Myron Gilman in Leavenworth, Kansas for a year, and then returned to Dillon, living with her oldest sister Lulu Belle Anderson, while she finished high school. Martha entered Montana State College and in the next three years received her diploma in nursing. During those years she met her future husband,
Howard R. Hansen. Howard served in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific and at the end of WWII returned to Dillon, where he and Martha were married in 1945. They made their home in Medicine Lodge on Hansen Livestock where Howard was ranching with his brother Leonard. Over the next 10 years they had three children, Paul, Anna Belle and Irene.
In 1958, Howard died from cancer, and Martha returned to Dillon with her three small children, bought a home and began her career as a nurse, for years at Barrett Hospital, and then at the end of her career, at Parkview Acres Nursing Home.
Over her life, Martha developed an artistic side that came out in phases of incredible creativity. She sewed clothing, knitted many a sweater, recovered furniture, tole painted, antiqued trunks, quilted (there are 100’s of her gene quilts around the world), and ceramics. She had a vast collection of classical music and opera which she loved and for most of her life she was an avid reader. Martha was a woman of great faith, reading the Bible and praying being a part of her day to day life. As she aged, she did it with grace, always making good decisions when it was time to downsize. She continued to be busy, wanting to be productive up until the last week of her life. In the last few days of her life, she was surrounded by friends, her children, her five Grandchildren and 10 Great-Grandchildren.
Her family, Paul and Helen Hansen, Anna Belle and Andy Gaasch, Irene and Bruce Peters. Grandchildren, Jon Hansen and Kate Juran, Jody Hansen Allison, Eric and Stephanie Hansen, Jennifer and Sam Buchanan and Ryan and Lindsay Gaasch...Great Grand Children, Savannah and Brock Hansen, Clay and Brice Allison, Sage Hansen, Jace and Carter Buchanan and Murphy, Ryder and Piper Belle Gaasch.
We are so grateful for and give special thanks to Doris Raph, her dear and faithful friend; the wise and loving care provided to ‘Gabby’ over the years by Sandra McIntyre, MD; by the staff at the Renaissance Assisted Living on Center Street; and at the end of her life by the Visiting Nurse Services & Hospice staff, especially Marie Holt, RN and Tennie Beitler, RN.
A Memorial Service celebrating Martha’s life will take place at the Our Savior Lutheran Church in Dillon, on Friday, December 28, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Memorials can be sent to Our Savior Lutheran Church or a charity of your choice.
We, her family, like to think that Mom/Gabby/Martha is in Heaven’s Library reading to the 20 little kids who lost their life in Connecticut the week before.
James (Jim) Tayior Brown
1927-2012
James (Jim) Tayior Brown of Lima passed away at his home on December 20 after a long courageous battle with lung disease (COPD). He was born May 11, 1927 in Clarence, Missouri to Virgil Lee and Stella Arlene Brown. He was the oldest of four children, Charles Estes, Shirley Lee and Betty Arlene. The family lived in Missouri until 1937, moving first to Idaho and then to Montana in 1939.
Jim attended schools in Dell and Lima. When he lived in Dell, he met the love of his life, Alice L. Knox, While in, high school during World War II, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy. His training was at Treasure Island and he served with the Seabees in Guam in 1945. While in the service, his cousins Bob and Roberta were adopted by Virgil and Stella. He returned to Lima and married Alice on June 11,1947 in a double wedding at the old, log Community Church in Lima, His sister Shirley and Alice’s brother Carl were also married.
Jim was a very active community member. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 3534 serving in all offices. He coached Little League with Frank Gosman, was an instructor for the Rifle Club, belonged to the Lima Fire Department, helped with the establishment and running of the Lima swimming pool. He was an avid fan of all Lima High School sports teams. For many years, he ran the clock at the basketball games and had many stories to tell. He also loved to hunt and help at the Knox ranch.
Jim worked many jobs to provide for his family. He acquired a truck and hauled a variety of loads including sheep, grain, produce, and even the girl’s basketball team.
Jim, with the help of his father, built their home that they moved in to in December 1950.
In 1956, Jim was hired on to the Lima crew for the State of Montana, working road maintenance, including plowing snow. Jim prided himself an excellent driver, and retired as the maintenance foreman in 1989 after 33 years.
Jim is survived by his wife of 65 years Alice; daughter Kathy Nugent (Mike) of Kodiak, Alaska; Ron (Ronda) of Kiamath Falls, Oregon; Russell (Janet) of Dillon; Arieen dark (John) of Lima; sister Shirley and brother in law Carl Knox of Lima; brother Bob (Lana) of San Diego, Calrfomia, In-laws Marie Gibbons of Portland, Oregon, Bessie Fleming of Helena, Dariene Brown of Lima, Dick Gosman of Lima, and Anna Jeanne (Dave) Moss of Lima; 11 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces.
He is preceded in death by his parents, father and mother-in-law William D. and Ethel Knox, brother Charies, sister Betty, sister Roberta, grandson Mike Clark, and many in-laws.
Viewing will be at the Lima Community Church between 1-2 p.m. on Friday December. 28 Services will follow at 2 p.m. Burial will be at the Lima Cemetery immediately after the services conclude.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lima Community Church, Lima swimming pool, Brown/Knox Scholarship, Lima U.S. Athletic Fund, or the charity of your choice.
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