Laureen (Laurie) Beth Hansen was born Jan. 9, 1954, at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Aurora, Colorado, to Harvey Dean Hansen and Sydna Alberta (Petty) Hansen.
She grew up on a farm southeast of Perry, spending an idyllic childhood playing with her brother, Brian, and her cousins, reading and riding horses.
Laurie graduated from Perry High School in 1972 and from Iowa State University in food and nutrition-dietetics in 1976.
She was a clinical dietitian at the Iowa Lutheran Hospital and then Mercy Medical Center, becoming a certified NSP while there. She finished out her career at the Iowa Heart Center in the lipid clinic.
In 1977 Richard Lee Mills and Laurie were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Perry. To this marriage were born Mark Lee Mills in 1983, Katherine Anne Mills in 1989 and Scott Richard Mills in 1991.
Richard and Laurie spent their lives farming and raising cattle on their farm northwest of Redfield.
Laurie never lost her passion for flower and vegetable gardening, traveling, and riding horses. Her love of nature and all things that God created has been passed down to her children and her grandchildren.
Laurie found new passions with her grandchildren, such as riding the gator through the farm and pastures, picking up walnuts for Brian’s squirrels, feeding bread to the cows, reading books, planting and picking flowers and teaching God’s Word.
Most of all, her greatest passion was serving and loving others. She was a longtime member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Adel.
Laurie was preceded in death by great-grandparents, Jerry and Kate Fredrichsen; grandparents, Carl and Emelia Hansen and William and Sydna Petty; parents, Harvey and Alberta Hansen; and husband, Richard.
She is survived by her children, Mark (Sarah), Katherine (Alan) Kent, and Scott (Taylor); grandchildren, Tate, Reese and Chloe Mills, Lily, Owen and Cole Kent and Parker and Baker Mills; brother, Brian (Cindy) Hansen; and many nieces; nephews; cousins; great-nieces; great-nephews; and friends.
Laurie died Feb. 1, 2024, surrounded by her children who were holding her hands. She fought a long, hard battle with ovarian cancer but ultimately won that battle and joined Jesus in Heaven.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 9 at the Faith Lutheran Church in Adel. Funeral service will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 at the church. Burial will follow at the West Linn Cemetery in rural Linden, Iowa.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the family and will be split between Laurie’s favorite local charities, Faith Lutheran Church, ovarian cancer research and ataxia research, unless specified. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.
