Aleta L. Hanson Obituary (1949 - 2019)

Aleta Lynn Bodnar Hanson 6/15/1949 - 5/15/2019 Aleta Lynn Hanson, born in Steubenville, OH passed away on the beautiful spring morning of May 15, 2019 in Menomonie, WI. The sun was shining, it wasn’t too hot and her favorite flowers, Lily of the Valley were in full bloom. Exactly one month before her next birthday, she left to be with her parents, Evalena (McGrew) and James Bodnar, as well as her brother Larry Bodnar, son, Shane RedEagle and all the other friends and relatives who left before her. We are positive she is seated at a big kitchen table with a fresh pack of smokes and an ice-cold Diet Coke in hand, while she regales to everyone, everything that happened to her. Aleta was a dreamer with a vivid imagination. She could easily picture herself ice skating on a mountain lake, meeting one of her favorite icons at the grocery store and escaping the desert heat to walk into the coolness of a great Egyptian pyramid. She was an artist, constantly sketching, painting and sculpting until her shaky hands got the best of her. She was a maker, a crafter, and an innovator. She dabbled in jewelry making, beading, scrapbooking, leather working, and quilting. She sewed elaborate doll clothes, often from recycled materials found thrifting. She loved a good bargain, especially since she was terrible with money. She quilted and crocheted treasured blankets. She taught herself to finger weave by checking out books from the library. “You can teach yourself to do anything. Just get a book from the library,” she often said. One can only imagine what else she would have gotten into had she known how to use YouTube. Outdoors she foraged, identified plants and birds, gardened, walked and whittled. She loved her “dremmy drills” almost as much as she loved sweets and fried food. Whimsy, fantasy, superstition, paranormal, glitter and romance were just some of her inspirations that helped guide her through a lifetime of severe depression and chronic ailments. She loved her family fiercely, and we believe it is for us that she held on so long. She was very stubborn. God help you if you wronged her, because everyone was going to hear about it for years. However, the many acts of kindness received were treasured and retold many times over. May she be at peace with a mailbox full of good mail, unlimited gas for long, aimless drives, and the knowledge that the wretched scale is at the bottom of a trash can. She leaves behind her loving husband Frank, sons: Douglas RedEagle, Jr., James Hanson, Joshua Hanson and her daughter Laura C. RedEagle, brother: Chuck Bodnar, six grandchildren and various other relatives. Aleta will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at the Cedar Fall’s Cemetery in late June. Should friends consider, contributions to cover her final expenses may be sent to her daughter. For details email Laura: hadjare@gmail.com