Merleen Ruth (Ballantyne) Hanson

Merleen Ruth (Ballantyne) Hanson, the daughter of Nancy Curtis was born February 12, 1964, in Cherokee, IA. As an infant she was adopted by Merlin and Ruth Ballantyne. Her childhood years were spent in Cherokee where she attended school and graduated from Washington High School in 1982.

 She was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Russell John Hanson. With Russ being in the United States Air Force, they traveled extensively and lived in numerous cities within the United States.

 Merleen loved animals: she owned everything from potbelly pigs to horses, dogs, cats, bearded dragons, and chickens. She also enjoyed horseback riding, cooking, gardening, and canning.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, Merlin and Ruth Ballantyne; biological mother, Nancy Curtis; and father-in-law, Jack Hason.

 She is survived by her children, Tony Hanson and Aaron Hanson both of Staples, MN; sister, Betheen (Ballantyne) Groepper and her husband Todd; one brother, Bryon Ballantyne; mother-in-law, Sue Hanson of Cherokee, IA; sister-in-law, Lilly (Hanson) Parrott and her husband Larry of Arizona; brother- in-law, Allen Hanson and his wife Marie; nieces and nephews, Cassea and Grayson Groepper, Andrew and Madi Parrott, Chris, Jennifer, April, Melissa Hanson. As well as biological family mostly located in Missouri.

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