ORLAH M. HANSEN
1926 - 2024
Orlah Marie Hansen, one of three children of Herbert and Huldah (Swanson) Kuntz, was born October 24, 1926, in Claremont, South Dakota. At a young age, Orlah and her family settled in Nehawka, Nebraska. Orlah attended school at Nehawka, graduating from Nehawka High School and then attended Lincoln School of Commerce.
Immediately following high school, Orlah worked at the Nehawka Bank. She later worked as a bookkeeper with Gold’s Department Store and secretary at the Nebraska State Capitol. She credited her years of 4-H club involvement to much of her success later in life.
On August 25, 1946, Orlah was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart Hal Hansen in Lincoln, Nebraska. The couple would be blessed with two children: Stephen and Kristi. After their marriage, Orlah and Hal worked the family farm near Murray, Nebraska for 30 years. In 1973, they moved to Auburn and opened a Chrysler-Plymouth- Dodge dealership. They enjoyed working together and serving the area for 33 years before retiring in 2006.
Orlah was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church. She enjoyed participating as choir member, pianist, and organist for more than 75 years. She was proud of her membership in various Prayer and Share groups and United Methodist Women. Orlah and Hal were sponsors of the Methodist Youth Fellowship Group in Nehawka for many years. Orlah also enjoyed playing music from the past at the Good Samaritan Society in Auburn while the residents hummed along and did their exercises. She loved arts and crafts, including photography, painting, and sewing. A lover of natural beauty, she happily invested many hours of time tending gardens and landscapes as a member of the Auburn Community Garden Club. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy and she always looked forward to spending time with them.
Following Hal’s death on December 9, 2010, Orlah moved to Longs Creek Village Assisted Living in Auburn. She built many new friendships at Longs Creek and continued to share her musical gifts through devotions and songs from the past on Sunday afternoons. On Sunday, January 28, 2024, Orlah passed away at the Nemaha County Hospital in Auburn, having reached the age of 97 years, 3 months, and 4 days. Besides her husband Hal, Orlah was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers Wallace and Louis Kuntz.
Those left to mourn her passing include her son Stephen Hansen and fiancé Teresa of Nehawka, daughter Kristi McLaughlin of Auburn; grandchildren Juli (Rob) Elston of London, England, Nicole (Rick) Hodge of Liberty, MO; great-grandchildren Graham and Vivian Hodge; sister-in-law Mary Kuntz of Sutter Creek, CA; other relatives and many dear friends.
A funeral for Orlah was Saturday, February 2, 2024, at First United Methodist Church in Auburn, officiated by Rev. Jim Corson and Rev. Larry Tolen. Evelyn Heskett was accompanist for a solo by Debbie Meyer and congregational singing. Casket bearers were Kevin Bateman, Rick Bowman, Steve Humm, Corey Hobscheidt, Kevin Maneman, and Randy Bogle. Burial was in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery at Nehawka.
Services were entrusted to Hemmingsen Funeral Home of Auburn.