Gwenyth Evelyn Hanson

Gwenyth Evelyn (Hillman) Hanson, 81, of St. Ansgar, Iowa, passed away Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the Nora Springs Care Center in Nora Springs, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held Friday, July 24, at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar with the Rev. Paul Weeg officiating. Visitation will be an hour before the service from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the First Lutheran Parish Center. Burial will follow the service at Sunset Rest Cemetery in Northwood, Iowa.

Gwenyth Evelyn Hillman was born on Sept. 27, 1944, in Northwood to Harry and Evelyn (Sime) Hillman. She was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Northwood and graduated from Northwood-Kensett High School in 1962. During her high school years, she was active in band, drama and cheerleading. She was crowned Homecoming Queen for her class and represented her school as a queen candidate at the North Iowa Band Festival.

After graduation, she briefly attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and Mason City Junior College before completing her Elementary Education degree at Mankato State University in Mankato, Minn., in 1966. On Sept. 17, 1966, she married Harvey Hanson at First Lutheran Church in Northwood. They lived in Austin, Minn., Ringsted, Iowa, and Grafton, Iowa, before settling in St. Ansgar in 1973. Together, they raised three children: Kevin, Cameron and Kathryn.

Gwenyth taught briefly in Austin before staying home to take care of her family. She was active at First Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar, serving as a Sunday School teacher, Mary Ruth Circle, church council secretary, president of the women’s group, choir and handbell choir. She later helped with her husband’s livestock hauling business and was an avid Lenox collector.

Living family members include her son, Kevin of Osage, and his children: Jenna (Taylor) Manning, Jayden Hanson and Joryn Hanson; son, Cameron of Charles City, and his wife, Stephanie, and their two sons: Carter and Brady; son-in-law, Chad Mills of Northwood, and his two sons: Tyler and Justin; a great-grandson, Callen Manning; sisters-in-law: Wanda Hillman of Northwood, Sharon (Bob) Gordon of Spirit Lake, Iowa, and Darlene Meling of Northfield, Minn.; and brother-in-law, Luther Hanson of Lawrence, Kan. There are many nieces, nephews and extended family.

Gwenyth was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harvey in 2011; daughter, Kathryn in 2019; brother, Wayne Hillman; and in-laws: Wayne and Mavis Hanson, Craig and Marilyn Hanson and Ila Hanson.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the Nora Springs Care Center and St. Croix Hospice for their care of Gwenyth.

Hoff Celebrations - Schroeder Chapel of St. Ansgar is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.hoffcelebrations.com.