Marilyn Hansen

Marilyn was born in Fresno, California on July 31, 1927, the only child of Henry and Marian Bopp. She grew up on a farm in Kerman, CA, where she graduated from Kerman Union High School in 1944. Attending Fresno State University, Marilyn completed 2 years of business courses, with an emphasis on accounting. She was married to Vernon Wedel on June 15, 1952. The marriage was brief and they divorced not long after. Marilyn later married Crowell Hansen on November 28, 1958. On September 13, 1967, Marilyn and Crowell adopted a 3-week old baby, naming him Erik Henry Hansen.

Marilyn was a wonderful mother and a supportive wife. She participated in many “Elks” club events with Crowell. Most memorable was her first trip to Hawaii with the “Elks.” This trip began her love of the Hawaiian Islands. She made a total of six more trips to the islands over the next two decades.

After becoming a single mother in 1988 she went back into full-time work as a bookkeeper. In 1992 she began working for Cross Church and remained there until her retirement in 2009.

What brought Marilyn great joy over the years was raising and caring for her many Toy Poodles. Most notably, her last dog, Ginger, who kept her company for 16 years. She passed away August 1, 2024. It was Marilyn’s wish that Ginger’s ashes be laid to rest with her.

Marilyn was a remarkable woman of deep faith. Her parents were Volga Germans from Russia; therefore, she grew up with strong ties to their Evangelical Lutheran heritage. She was a faithful member for the majority of her life. Even as her hearing faded with age, and she was no longer able to attend church, she could be found every Sunday watching a Lutheran church service on T.V., squinting through her glasses to read the subtitles.

Marilyn is survived by her son, Erik Hansen and daughter-in-law, Andrea Hansen; mother of her grandchildren and daughter-in-law of 16 years, Wendy Hansen; granddaughters, Jasmine Taunton and Danielle Lanas; and great-grandchildren, Nylah, Colby, Ellis, Avery, Ezra and Ophelia.

A Funeral Service will be held at Stephens and Bean Funeral Chapel, 202 North Teilman, Fresno, CA 937061310, US, on April 10, 2026, at 11:00 am.