RoseLee Brown Hansen

RosaLee Brown Hansen June 5, 1918 ~ July 8, 2012

BURLEY, IDAHO – Our beautiful and beloved mother and Grammy, RosaLee Brown Hansen, 94, slipped quietly through the veil on Sunday, July 8, 2012, at Rosetta Assisted Living in Burley, Idaho.

RosaLee Brown Hansen was born June 5, 1918, in McHessor, Montana, to Jesse Jerome Brown and Anna Kenison Brown. Her early years were spent in Armstead, where she attended a one-room school. Her vivacious personality made her popular with her fellow students. Her early loves included horses and playing the violin. She graduated from Beaverhead County High School in Dillon, Montana, at age 16. She then attended Montana State Normal College (now the University of Montana Western) in Dillon and participated in school government and extra-curricular clubs. She graduated with high honors and a B.A. She went on to obtain an M.A. at University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. Throughout her life, she had a great thirst for learning and a devotion to excellence in all she did.

She began her teaching career at age 19 in Conrad, Montana. She also taught art in Billings, Montana, Idaho Falls, Idaho, and arts and crafts at Burley High School for 17 years. She also attended the Art Students League in New York City and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Over the years, she attended many classes and workshops as well as teaching extension classes in art for Idaho State University.

During World War II, she became a recreation specialist in arts and crafts for the American Red Cross. She served two years at Camp Bowie, Texas, at Bruns General Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico (where she worked with many soldiers who had contracted tuberculosis during their imprisonment as P.O.W.s), and what is now Lackland Field in San Antonio, Texas. She loved her Red Cross work and developed many lasting friendships. After the war, she spent a short time in Kansas City, Missouri as a commercial artist, but soon decided to return to her first love, teaching. She was offered a position at O. E. Bell Junior High School in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where she had many outstanding students and experiences.

She was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 5, 1949. She married Duane Allen Hansen on June 1, 1949 in Ammon, Idaho, and their marriage was solemnized Dec. 22, 1950, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.

They moved to Burley, Idaho, in 1958 and have resided there since. Following their retirement, Duane and RosaLee enjoyed traveling the world, visiting their children and grandchildren and working in various church callings. Duane preceded her in death on Sept. 29, 2007.

She is survived by her two daughters, Rae H. (Mike) Waite of Hazelton, Idaho, and Christine H. (Paul) Jones of Spanish Fork, Utah. She has seven grandchildren, Christopher (Julie) Jones of Spanish Fork, Utah, Brett (Nikki) Waite of Gilbert, Arizona, Melissa Waite of Provo, Utah, Andrew (Leah) Jones of Orem, Utah, Kelli Waite of Provo, Utah, and Jennifer and Alix Jones of Spanish Fork, Utah; and two great-grandchildren, Michael and Caleb Waite of Gilbert, Arizona. She has one surviving sister, Ruth Ann Brown Patton of Klamath Falls, Oregon.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; and one sister, Emma June Brown Craven.

Our family would like to extend our thanks to all the kind care givers who have served RosaLee over the past few years.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 14, at the Burley LDS 3rd and 7th Ward Church, 2200 Oakley Ave., with Bishop David A. Hansen officiating. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. at the Ammon Cemetery near Idaho Falls.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, July 13, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Friends and family are invited to come and celebrate the life of a most remarkable lady.