Faith Ilene (Hanson) Specht

Faith Ilene (Hanson) Specht was born September 17, 1934, to John and Lola (Jenness) Perrett in Cherokee County, IA. She graduated from Quimby Consolidated School in 1952 and  worked as a telephone operator for the next two years. On August 8, 1954, Faith married Walter Donald (Don) Hanson in Washta, IA. They moved from Quimby to Albert City in 1955 where they started their family. In 1971, Don and Faith and their 5 children moved to Marcus as Don continued working for Simonsen Mill and did so until he was killed in an accident in 1984. Together they enjoyed bowling, playing cards, and attending the many sporting activities in which the children were involved. On May 17, 2003, Faith married Donald Specht. After 10 years of marriage, Don passed away June 14, 2013, after a short illness. 

Faith was active in the Faith Lutheran Church in Marcus where she was an organist for many years before retiring from that position in 2016. She was also active in the Marcus Historical Society, American Legion Auxiliary, played the piano and bingo at the care center, and played cards in a pinochle group. With 13 grandchildren, she kept busy attending their activities and continued doing so when she became a Great Grandma. She never missed a birthday and was known for writing a detailed hand-written letter to all the kids. Faith also enjoyed reading books, doing puzzles, and quilting having made over 100 quilts. Many of the quilts were made with other women from her church for missions but she also made many for gifts for various occasions. Faith remained active and in her own home and even drove up to Emmetsburg one week ago to visit a great grandchild she hadn’t seen for some time. 

Faith passed away on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at St Luke’s Unity Point in Sioux City at 88 years old. Her family will always remember being with her on her last earthly day and she will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Don Hanson and Don Specht, her parents, brother John Perrett, sister Marianne in 1930, son-in-law Michael Snyder, grandson-in-law Rory Booth, brothers-in-law Gunnar Hanson and Chester Hanson.

Faith is survived by her children: Randy (Sandy) Hanson of Marcus; Rhonda Snyder of Mason City; Rollie (Bettie) Hanson of Spencer; Rod Hanson of Humboldt; Robbin (John) Bird of Emmetsburg, and daughter-in-law Denise Hanson (Steve Grant).  She is also survived by 13 grandchildren: Amber (Jim) Lhotka, Andy (Kelcy) Hanson, Alex (Alicia) Hanson, Mandy (Dennis) Davis, Alissa (Tom) Mangan, Heather Means, Andrea (Nate) Manor, Brooke (Lacy) Hanson, Brandi (Codie) Fetters, Robin Hanson, Josh (Erin) Bird, Brady (Nerissa) Bird, and Abby (Kyle) Caven.  Also 26 great grandchildren: Brennan, Mason, Mirabel, Myla, Kinnick, Elliott, Zarie, Colbie, Zander, Connor, Aspen Faith, Ida Faith, Myka, Taytem, Vivian, Dawson, Lola, Evelyn, Zaydn, Julia, Braylen, Penelope, Easton, Mills, Joseph, and Lennox, as well as many other relatives and friends including her sisters-in-law Shirley Perrett of Quimby and Betty Hanson of Ida Grove.