Helen Ada Miller (1921-2009)

Helen Ada Miller Hanson, 88 years, 1 month and 18 days of age, of Hiawatha, IA formerly of Cedar Rapids died on October 9, 2009.

Helen Ada Miller Hanson was born August 21, 1921, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Arthur Miller and Clarice (Graham) Miller. She grew up on farms near Center Point and Urbana, Iowa. Helen’s maternal Miller-Lampman-Graham family was among the founding settlers in Center Point (Milo and Cynthia Miller arrived in Linn County in 1853 and was a “progressive agriculturist who owned over 600 acres and several residences in Center Point.” He developed the land that is now the Center Point Cemetery). Her paternal Miller family (Jesse Miller and Lydia Smith Miller) emigrated from Dublin, Ireland, before 1824, and settled first in Virginia, Indiana, Wisconsin, and later southeast Missouri. The fathers of Jesse and Lydia fought in the War of the Revolution. Jesse himself carried a musket in the War of 1812. Their eldest son, Jacob, brought the Miller family to Section 32, Smithfield Township, Linn County, Iowa in 1872. After 1889, the family left the farm and moved to Brush Creek (since 1890 Brush Creek has been known as Arlington). The Miller’s daughter married Theodore Lampman, and their daughter, Elnora Leila, married Chalmer Graham. Chalmer and Elnora Graham's daughter was Clarice Graham, who married Arthur Miller. Together farmed near Center Point/Urbana and later operated the Clover Farm Store in Urbana. Clarice and Arthur Miller's oldest daughter was Helen.

While living, in her parents’ home and farmstead, near Urbana Helen met her future husband when she was just fifteen. He was a member of the neighborhood threshing crew; she was helping to feed the crew. After finishing her senior year at Urbana High School, she married Leo Leland Joseph Hanson on September 10, 1938 in Manchester, Iowa, in a ceremony officiated by the mayor – a Mr. Drew. Later that day, they were married by Rev. Father Hubert Holsters, at the Sacred Heart Church in Walker, Iowa.
Helen and Leo farmed near Vinton, Ely, and Spencer’s Grove (Walker), before moving to farms near Masonville, Delhi, and finally Hopkinton. Helen was a full partner on the farms and in all endeavors, throughout the sixty years they shared together until Leo’s death on October 14, 1998. During these years they raised four children and later the couple retired to Monticello (1981) and eventually to Cedar Rapids.

Helen was a talented and very involved member of her community. Throughout the years she was active in local chapters of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (ACCW) holding several offices; Grant Wood Art Club (near Anamosa); Good Earth Garden Club (Cedar Rapids); and several other painting and garden clubs. Her flowers decorated many church functions over the years. Her decorated cakes and flower arrangements were part of many special occasions, including several wedding/graduation celebrations. Her floral paintings and paintings of vintage barns and houses hang in many homes in Eastern Iowa. Baskets of vegetables (and flowers) were often shared with friends and neighbors. And thanks to the help and attention given to her and her gardens, by her daughter Joyce, she was able to continue with her giving until she moved to a retirement care center in 2008. Her volunteer work included fund raising and public relations for the organizations to which she belonged and she always worked for the church she attended: Sacred Heart (Walker), Immaculate Conception (Masonville), St. John’s (Delhi), St. Luke’s (Hopkinton), Sacred Heart (Monticello), and most recently St. Pius X (Cedar Rapids). Since moving to Hiawatha, she attended services at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. For many years she (with Leo) volunteered at the annual breakfast at Camp Courageous (Monticello).

An achievement she most savored was graduating from high school in an era where no one else in her family achieved that goal, despite the fact that she had to walk 3 miles each way to get to school. Her independence and spunk was shown early when she organized the “first walk-out day” at Urbana High School, in 1938. Later, in the early 1950s she became the only female seed corn salesman in Iowa. Even though her husband was officially registered as the salesman, there was no doubt that it was her doing the selling. She was a top performer and paved the way for others to have a similar opportunity using their own name. She enjoyed gatherings where she could entertain her extended family and many friends with large potlucks and much conversation. The potluck she and her beloved husband hosted together for their 60th wedding anniversary in September 1998, was a gathering that was particularly special to her.

She is survived by four children: Dwayne Leo (Belinda) Hanson of Nevada, IA; Keith Vincent Hanson of Boca Raton, FL; Sharron Leila (E. J. “Jack”) McElmeel of Cedar Rapids; and Joyce Patricia Hanson of Cedar Rapids; and her twelve grandchildren, and twenty-three great-grandchildren including Dwayne’s children: Denise (Mark) Swanson (and their sons, Nicholas and Matthew) of Cambridge, IA; Sandra (Eric) Johnston (and their daughters, Rebecca and Victoria) of Nevada, IA; Brian (Leslie) Hanson (and their children: Sarah, Peyton, and Samuel) of Nevada, IA; Shawn (Keesia Wirt) Hanson (and their sons: Mazian and Bourne) of Des Moines, IA; and Dustin (Kelly) Hanson (and their daughter, River) of Tennessee; Keith’s daughter: Katherine Hanson of Boca Raton, Fl; Sharron’s children: Michael (Starr) McElmeel (and their children: Michael, Jade, Tarrah, and Jessie) of Cedar Rapids; Deborah (John Clark) McElmeel of Madison, WI; Thomas (Tiffany Bass) McElmeel (and their children: Aubrey, Griffin, Gavin, and Ava) of Cedar Rapids; Steven (Christina) McElmeel (and their children: E.J., Kylie, Kaydence, and Marissa) of Fernley, NV; Matthew (Jennifer) McElmeel of Urbandale, IA; and Suzanne McElmeel of Cedar Rapids.

Helen is also survived by her sisters: Eileen (Merle) Hepker and Bernita Troxel, Cedar Rapids, and Leo’s brother-in-law Harold Bertling, Cascade. She was preceded in death by her husband (1998), father (1955), mother (1995), brothers: Allen (1994), Donald (1999), and Loren (2006), and her half-sister Della Cue (1990).

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	Helen Ada Miller Hanson, 88 years, 1 month and 18 days of age, of Hiawatha, IA formerly of Cedar Rapids died on October 9, 2009. Helen Ada Miller Hanson was born August 21, 1921, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Arthur Miller and Clarice (Graham) Miller. She grew up on farms near Center Point and Urbana, Iowa. Helen’s maternal Miller-Lampman-Graham family was among the founding settlers in Center Point (Milo and Cynthia Miller arrived in Linn County in 1853 and was a “progressive agriculturist who owned over 600 acres and several residences in Center Point.” He developed the land that is now the Center Point Cemetery). Her paternal Miller family (Jesse Miller and Lydia Smith Miller) emigrated from Dublin, Ireland, before 1824, and settled first in Virginia, Indiana, Wisconsin, and later southeast Missouri. The fathers of Jesse and Lydia fought in the War of the Revolution. Jesse himself carried a musket in the War of 1812. Their eldest son, Jacob, brought the Miller family to Section 32, Smithfield Township, Linn County, Iowa in 1872. After 1889, the family left the farm and moved to Brush Creek (since 1890 Brush Creek has been known as Arlington). The Miller’s daughter married Theodore Lampman, and their daughter, Elnora Leila, married Chalmer Graham. Chalmer and Elnora Graham's daughter was Clarice Graham, who married Arthur Miller. Together farmed near Center Point/Urbana and later operated the Clover Farm Store in Urbana. Clarice and Arthur Miller's oldest daughter was Helen.
While living, in her parents’ home and farmstead, near Urbana Helen met her future husband when she was just fifteen. He was a member of the neighborhood threshing crew; she was helping to feed the crew. After finishing her senior year at Urbana High School, she married Leo Leland Joseph Hanson on September 10, 1938 in Manchester, Iowa, in a ceremony officiated by the mayor – a Mr. Drew. Later that day, they were married by Rev. Father Hubert Holsters, at the Sacred Heart Church in Walker, Iowa. Helen and Leo farmed near Vinton, Ely, and Spencer’s Grove (Walker), before moving to farms near Masonville, Delhi, and finally Hopkinton. Helen was a full partner on the farms and in all endeavors, throughout the sixty years they shared together until Leo’s death on October 14, 1998. During these years they raised four children and later the couple retired to Monticello (1981) and eventually to Cedar Rapids. Helen was a talented and very involved member of her community. Throughout the years she was active in local chapters of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (ACCW) holding several offices; Grant Wood Art Club (near Anamosa); Good Earth Garden Club (Cedar Rapids); and several other painting and garden clubs. Her flowers decorated many church functions over the years. Her decorated cakes and flower arrangements were part of many special occasions, including several wedding/graduation celebrations. Her floral paintings and paintings of vintage barns and houses hang in many homes in Eastern Iowa. Baskets of vegetables (and flowers) were often shared with friends and neighbors. And thanks to the help and attention given to her and her gardens, by her daughter Joyce, she was able to continue with her giving until she moved to a retirement care center in 2008. Her volunteer work included fund raising and public relations for the organizations to which she belonged and she always worked for the church she attended: Sacred Heart (Walker), Immaculate Conception (Masonville), St. John’s (Delhi), St. Luke’s (Hopkinton), Sacred Heart (Monticello), and most recently St. Pius X (Cedar Rapids). Since moving to Hiawatha, she attended services at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. For many years she (with Leo) volunteered at the annual breakfast at Camp Courageous (Monticello). An achievement she most savored was graduating from high school in an era where no one else in her family achieved that goal, despite the fact that she had to walk 3 miles each way to get to school. Her independence and spunk was shown early when she organized the “first walk-out day” at Urbana High School, in 1938. Later, in the early 1950s she became the only female seed corn salesman in Iowa. Even though her husband was officially registered as the salesman, there was no doubt that it was her doing the selling. She was a top performer and paved the way for others to have a similar opportunity using their own name. She enjoyed gatherings where she could entertain her extended family and many friends with large potlucks and much conversation. The potluck she and her beloved husband hosted together for their 60th wedding anniversary in September 1998, was a gathering that was particularly special to her. She is survived by four children: Dwayne Leo (Belinda) Hanson of Nevada, IA; Keith Vincent Hanson of Boca Raton, FL; Sharron Leila (E. J. “Jack”) McElmeel of Cedar Rapids; and Joyce Patricia Hanson of Cedar Rapids; and her twelve grandchildren, and twenty-three great-grandchildren including Dwayne’s children: Denise (Mark) Swanson (and their sons, Nicholas and Matthew) of Cambridge, IA; Sandra (Eric) Johnston (and their daughters, Rebecca and Victoria) of Nevada, IA; Brian (Leslie) Hanson (and their children: Sarah, Peyton, and Samuel) of Nevada, IA; Shawn (Keesia Wirt) Hanson (and their sons: Mazian and Bourne) of Des Moines, IA; and Dustin (Kelly) Hanson (and their daughter, River) of Tennessee; Keith’s daughter: Katherine Hanson of Boca Raton, Fl; Sharron’s children: Michael (Starr) McElmeel (and their children: Michael, Jade, Tarrah, and Jessie) of Cedar Rapids; Deborah (John Clark) McElmeel of Madison, WI; Thomas (Tiffany Bass) McElmeel (and their children: Aubrey, Griffin, Gavin, and Ava) of Cedar Rapids; Steven (Christina) McElmeel (and their children: E.J., Kylie, Kaydence, and Marissa) of Fernley, NV; Matthew (Jennifer) McElmeel of Urbandale, IA; and Suzanne McElmeel of Cedar Rapids. Helen is also survived by her sisters: Eileen (Merle) Hepker and Bernita Troxel, Cedar Rapids, and Leo’s brother-in-law Harold Bertling, Cascade. She was preceded in death by her husband (1998), father (1955), mother (1995), brothers: Allen (1994), Donald (1999), and Loren (2006), and her half-sister Della Cue (1990).

Grandma H (Cookbook Preface)	Memories