Hannah Nygaard

Hannah Stangeland, daughter of Ole and Cecelia (Aarthun) Stangeland, was born November 4, 1911 in Revere, Minnesota. Her family lived in Redwood County until she was seven years old, when they moved to Barsness Township in Pope County. She was confirmed October 3, 1926 at West Zion Lutheran Church. She attended School Districts #51 and #73 and graduated in 1926. Following her schooling, she worked as a live in housekeeper for Dr. and Mrs. Schofield in Benson and Dr. and Mrs. R. W. Giere in Minneapolis. On June 30, 1933, she was united in marriage to Gilman Billehus at the West-East Zion Lutheran Parsonage by Reverend Palmer. The couple lived on the Billehus family farm in Barsness Township, where they farmed and raised their five children. Gilman died on July 5, 1948. Hannah and her children then moved into Starbuck, where she worked at Samuelson's Drug Store from 1950 to 1970. On June 29, 1968, she was united in marriage to Oliver Nygaard in the Fron Church Chapel. The couple moved to a farm in Blue Mounds Township until 1980, when they moved back to Starbuck because of Oliver's health. Oliver died on May 6, 1984. Hannah sold her house and moved into the Carlson Apartments and then to the Hi-View Apartments. In 2003, she entered the Minnewaska Lutheran Home, where she enjoyed the activities, outings and the care from the staff.



Hannah enjoyed quilting and other handiwork. She liked seeing the different parts of Pope County and seeing the many changes thru the years. She also liked watching sports, especially basketball and playing board and card games; doing cross word puzzles, gardening and cooking her favorite meal, roast beef and gravy. Family was very important to Hannah.



Hannah died on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck, having lived to reach the age of 94 years.



She is survived by three daughters: Helene Lind of Bemidji, Gail (William) Yaeger of St. Clair Shores, MI and Nancy (Terry) Christensen of Burnsville; two sons: Orlin Billehus of Montevideo and Curtis Billehus of Covington, GA; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren, Katherine Hannah Lind and Hannah Mary Kociemba, named after their great-grandmother and Nicholas Lind, Adam and Abigael Eakin, David, Sarah and John Streed, Drew and Jack Herzer, Ryan and Colleen Spielman, Naomi Fedor and ZOE and Izabella Christensen; five sisters: Alice Anderson of Seattle, WA, Bernice (Elvin) Nordaune of Benson, Orpha (Chandler) Caughie of Olympia, WA, Naomi Briest of Seattle, WA and Elsie (Hank) Gonzales of Port Orchard, WA; one brother: Irwin (Laura) Stangeland of Forada and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husbands: Gilman and Oliver; one grandson: Eric Christensen; her parents; two sisters: Clara and Florence; one brother: Hans; two sons-in-law: Ray Lind and David Streed and one daughter-in-law: Marge Billehus.



Pallbearers for the service are Hannah's grandchildren: Bradley Lind, Mark Streed, Allan Billehus, Lynn Kociemba, Renae Lind Eakin, Jodi Billehus Fedor, Sandy Herzer and Vicki Billehus Spielman. Monica Gosseling will serve as organist for the service with Gerdes and Bryant Ulseth providing special music. Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in charge of the arrangements.



Family requests memorials to the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck or the Fron Lutheran Church in Starbuck.