August 26, 1934 - October 9, 2015
Darlene Bertina Hanson Elliott
1934 - 2015
Darlene Bertina Hanson Elliott, 81, of Savannah, MO, passed from this life on Friday, October 9, 2015 at Mosaic Life Care, St. Joseph, MO. Darlene was born in Fergus Falls MN, on August 26, 1934 to Carroll Chris Albert & Johanna Evangeline (Benson) Hanson.
When she was 5 the family moved to Shelby, Montana and eventually settled in Bainbridge Island, Washington. She graduated from Bainbridge High School in 1952, where she had been a cheerleader and Home Coming Queen. She was crowned Bainbridge Island Strawberry Festival Queen in 1952. After High School she worked as a telephone operator so she always knew what was going on in Bainbridge Island. In Washington she met the love of her life, Charles David Elliott, and they wed October 25, 1959. They moved to the Midwest and raised 4 sons. They lived in Kansas City, St. Louis, and St. Joseph, settling in Savannah, MO.
Darlene loved being with her family and friends at events and get togethers. She loved going to the west coast to visit relatives, which always involved digging clams, eating oysters and all sorts of seafood. She always looked forward to Fridays, especially going to breakfast with her group of friends know as The Motley Crew. She had a special bond with newborn babies, from her sons, to her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren, she loved to squeeze and cuddle them. Two of her favorite people were her sister-in-laws, Ginny Hinkle and Helen McCush Frock, spending many hours together. She loved The Royals, her Boys in Blue, always having them playing on the radio and cheering them on. She enjoyed taking care of her and Dave's 5 acres in Savannah, growing dozens of Maple trees from seedlings and listening to Mockingbirds Sing.
Survivors include four sons: Brad (Jan), Bend, OR; Steve (Beth), Amazonia; Randy (Julie), Country Club; Dan (Robin), Overland Park, KS; thirteen grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews; four brothers, Len (Delphine) Hanson, Redondo Beach, CA, Dean (Gloria) Hanson Port Orchard, WA, Harlen (Nancy) Hanson Huntington Beach, CA, Chris (Cleo) Hanson Yucaipa, CA; two sisters, Beverly Winger, Bremerton, WA, and Carolyn (Ray) Lowrie, Nordland WA. She was preceded in death by her parents, Husband, Charles David Elliott, grandson, Jeremy Elliott, and granddaughter, Sunshine Elliott.
Celebration of Life will be 4:00 PM Saturday, October 24, 2015 at Breit-Hawkins Funeral Home; Savannah, MO. Public visitation and family receiving hours will be 3 to 4 PM Saturday, October 24, 2015 at the Funeral Home. Inurnment will follow, Savannah Cemetery Savannah, MO.