Beverly Ann (Fish) Hanson was born on Jan. 5, 1931, to Christine and James O. Fish in Grantsburg, Wisconsin. Born at the height of the Great Depression, Beverly and her siblings knew what it was like to go without. Life was tough—her father would be gone for long stretches for work, so her mother was on her own to raise eight children (six boys and two girls). Beverly’s brothers were her first and favorite friends. Her sister Leona was 13 years her senior, so even though they later became close, Beverly spent a lot of time with the boys roughhousing, building forts, and playing “stickball.” She wasn’t afraid to get dirty, and it made her tough. She attended Branstad Country School and later Grantsburg High School. She enjoyed school and was involved in as many activities as possible; there is no doubt that if girls were allowed to play sports then, she would have participated and excelled.
Not long after graduating in 1948, she met Kenneth Hanson while visiting a dance hall. They would marry on April 23, 1949, and settle on his family farm in Cushing. She and Kenneth would be blessed with four children: Renee, Kenny, Scott, and Bart. Beverly’s family was the absolute center of her world and her greatest source of joy.
Bev became a staple in the Cushing community, working a variety of jobs in town, including at the Cushing Co-op and as a rural mail carrier at the post office; but most people remember her years working at Vern’s Country Market, taking special care of the produce section. She was memorable to many in the area because of her love of softball. She spent an unthinkable number of hours at ballfields playing on teams with her girlfriends, as a 4-H softball coach to numerous Cushing youth, and cheering on her children and later her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, most who played or still play and love the game of softball.
To many, Bev was known as ”Grandma Gum.” Each Christmas she would dress up as Santa to drop off gifts to Renee’s daycare kids; during Halloween, she would dress as a witch and run through the corn fields just so the kids could catch a glimpse and giggle with glee. She was a pseudo-grandmother to many and was a friend to all. Bev was also a long-standing, active member of First Lutheran Church in Cushing: She sliced thousands of apples for pies, helped sew quilts, and delivered Meals on Wheels. A proud member of the “balcony crew,” Bev sat in her “personal reserved chair” for over 70 years. She was unwavering in her faith.
Beverly lived a full and beautiful life. She had many hobbies. Beverly enjoyed taking care of her lawn (even mowing it herself up until just a few years ago!), planting flowers of all kinds (with an especially gifted green thumb for growing orchids and bringing back to life droopy flowers that others had given up on), reading the daily paper, especially the sports section and doing the crossword puzzles, watching all the game shows on the TV, caring for and watching the birds and deer in her yard, and feeding the many cats around her house, pet chickens, and a rooster. She would often say she “had to get home to feed the pigs.”
She created lasting memories with many friends, including camping trips with Lloyd and Judy Westlund, and spent numerous Saturdays going to garage sales with her gals, Leona, Margie, Helen, Betty, Donice, Bernice, and Dorothy. Bev was funny and famously stubborn, a trait many Norwegians possess and something she took pride in. She also was a BIG sports fan. She especially loved watching the Green Bay Packers, but as soon as the score got too close, she watched with one eye closed from another room! She even had an entire room in her house devoted to all of her Packers fan gear. Bev also enjoyed watching the Milwaukee Brewers and was a loyal fan of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Nothing was more important to Bev than her family. As it grew in size, she relished every holiday, hosting Easter egg hunts, pumpkin carving, and penny games at Christmas. She was her family’s steadfast matriarch. She could always be counted on to be in the stands cheering on her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It did not matter whether it was music, sports, theater, or graduations—Beverly would be there. She knew the importance of showing up. She provided her family with an extraordinary example of what it means to give unconditional, unwavering love and support for those you care for. She was the “Queen Bee” of her family, their moral compass, and the glue that kept everyone together. Even though she had three children, 11 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, she was able to keep a close relationship with each one with weekly phone calls, visits, and cards. She had a way to make each feel special—many in her family count her as their inspiration and best friend.
To say she will be missed is an understatement. Beverly passed away on June 24, 2026, at the age of 95. There is comfort in knowing that she was met at the Gates of Heaven by her son Kenny. Beverly was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth; her son, Kenneth Dell; her siblings, Leona Brekke, Byron (Grace) Fish, Warren (Ardelle) Fish, Virgil (Clara) Fish, Clayton Fish, James (Juanita) Fish and Gary Fish; and her special friends, Bernice Olson, Margie Wilson, Dorothy Baker, Caroline Olson, and Ruth Thompson. She is survived by her children, Renee Svoboda (Chuck), Scott Hanson (Kim), and Bart Hanson (Heidi); her 11 grandchildren, Michele Green (Kyle), April Smith (Brian), Sally Williamson (Scott), Kandis Smith (Marcus), Joe Hanson, Clayton Hanson (Maria), Cullen Hanson (Carly), Marley Hoefs (Aaron), Hans Hanson (Karn), Nolan Hanson (Felicia), and Macy Pomeroy (Chase); 25 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by numerous friends and extended family.
The family would like to thank First Lutheran WELCA, especially Jan Johnson, for checking in and being wonderful friends to Bev and to those who have sent condolences, shared memories, and expressed their love for Beverly.
A memorial service will be held at First Lutheran Church Cushing on Saturday, August 22, 2026, with a visitation starting at 10 a.m., a funeral service at 11:30 a.m., with a light lunch to follow, and a private family burial at Cushing Cemetery at 2 p.m. Please honor Beverly by wearing your Green Bay Packers gear!
In honor of Beverly, donations can be made to First Lutheran Church Cushing.
Arrangements with Grandstrand Funeral Home of Osceola, Wisconsin. Condolences may be expressed online at grandstrandfh.com.
