Erma L. Hanson

Erma La Verne Hanson, 93, of Johnston passed away of natural causes on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Iowa Methodist Hospital.

Erma was born on July 21, 1931, in Springfield, Missouri, to George and Opha McConnell. She graduated from Aurora High School in 1949 and was the class valedictorian. When your father is the high school principal, much is expected of you.

After meeting a handsome young man who was attending Kentucky Military Institute, Erma accepted his proposal and married David E. Hanson on June 11, 1950. That fall she began college at Southwest Missouri State. Her pursuit of higher education was put on hold when she welcomed their first child, Michael Alan Hanson, on June 5, 1951. 

They relocated to Des Moines, and it wasn't long before their second child, Henry Dan Hanson II, was born on November 17, 1956.

On March 1, 1963, the girl they had been hoping for arrived with the birth of their third child, Teresa Kay Hanson.

Erma was a mother of the 50's and 60's, busy with the work of raising kids and maintaining a home for her family. She still found time to enjoy her many hobbies. She liked to go bowling, she liked to play bridge, and she was a star of the Mother's Singers with her beautiful voice.

In the summer of 1977, Dave and Erma decided to make a move to Clear Lake, where they enjoyed many years together, hosting family and friends. After Dave’s passing in 2002, Erma moved to Johnston to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

Erma was preceded in death by her son, Mike and husband, Dave. She is survived by her daughter-in-law Janet, son Hank and his wife Lisa, daughter Terri and her husband Art, her sister Eula Jean Freeman, and three nephews. She will also be missed by her grandchildren; Molly Hanson and Johnny Alcivar, Kyle and Kelsey Hanson, Cassidy Heitz and Quentin Bolden and Kelly and Taylor Bain. She was also a great grandmother to Dallas Bain, and Niko Bolden, as well as four step-grandchildren, and nine step great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends beginning at 10 a.m., followed by a celebration of life at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 3rd at. at the Merle Hay Funeral Chapel, 4400 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to New Beginning Christian Church or the Food Bank of Iowa.