Arvilla Hanson

Arvilla Hanson passed this life peacefully December 14, 2021; she is proceeded in death by her beloved husband of sixty-seven years, Theodore (Ted) Hanson. Arvilla was born in Concordia, Kansas, in February 1931; she was the first child and eldest daughter born to Vach and Laura Huber.

In life, Arvilla was a remarkable woman with an extraordinary mind, a strong sense of purpose, a woman of great determination, and both well read and well educated.  She lived a life of service and in the imperative of advocacy for those in need. Arvilla’s life has served as an inspiration for so many in her roles as a woman, an educator, a champion for children, and for the importance of education throughout life. The family would like to take this time to honor a full life, one equally well lived and lived well, and the extraordinary daughter, mother, aunt, friend, student, teacher, and community leader she has been throughout her life of almost 91 years.

Arvilla began her own education at the Octagon School in Ames, Kansas. As the school needed one additional student to initially open, and her father, Vach Huber, was member of the School Board, he enrolled the then four-year-old Arvilla into the first grade where her love of education and teaching began. Even at Arvilla’s tender age, she was a very capable student who finished her daily studies quickly; noticing her love of learning, the teacher encouraged her to assist other students, some who were older.

Arvilla’s education occurred at a time when she rode a horse to school until her younger sister, Vera, came of age a few years later; at that time, their father Vach designed, engineered, and built cart that their horse, Doc, could not upset in the horses desire to take quick turns and get home after school. Arvilla had to learn how to unhook the horse from the cart, tie the horse, and re-hook the horse to the cart to go home.  When Arvilla started her first teaching assignment, a student asked her to come outside and meet her horse; it was Doc. On hearing Arvilla's voice Doc picked up his ears with knowledge of who she was and vocalized his gladness to see her.  Such a beautiful full circle for Arvilla who heard again from this student on her 85th Birthday reminding her of that day.

Students studied by the light of the sun through open curtains as there was no electricity. Teachers arrived long before the school hours to start the stove for heat to ensure a comfortable learning environment as there was no central heat/air. Teachers taught multiage groups from elementary to high school age, all in the same room, who attended school every day of the school year, even in inclement weather. There were no snow days, no snowplows, no public-school buses and students looked forward to the school day and learning.

Arvilla went on to Concordia High School where she met her future husband, Ted Hanson, in 1944; he was 14 years of age, she 13. After graduation, and committed to continuing her education, Arvilla attended Emporia State College where she received her teaching certificate and Ted went to Kansas State University. By the summer of 1949, she had accepted her first full-time position.  As her first teacher before her, Arvilla boarded with a couple who were presiding members of the School Board in a neighboring community and walked the mile and half to the schoolhouse daily, arriving in the early hours of the morning to heat the school for the children and prepare the building for learning.

The following year, having a year of teaching behind her, Arvilla returned to Concordia and accepted a multi-grade teaching position at the 'Red School House'. Arvilla was eighteen years of age, some of her students were fifteen years of age. Arvilla’s students have written her over the years regarding how instrumental she was to their love of education and belief in themselves, proud of their accomplished lives.  Traveling home for Fall Fest, her children were able to meet some her teachers but also to meet some of her students where she was approached to ask if she still remembered them.  She always did and asked questions about their lives today.

Ted and Arvilla married at the First Presbyterian Church on May 25, 1952; shortly after their wedding, Ted was called to active duty at Sampson Air Force Base in Geneva, New York during the Korean Conflict.  At the base, Arvilla continued educating children until her first daughter was born.  After completing the duty commitment, the couple returned home to Concordia with their new daughter and welcomed their oldest son who was born in Concordia.  With Ted accepting a position at Boeing, the young family moved to Wichita where Arvilla continued to teach while returning to college through correspondence programs, determined to receive her Bachelor’s in Education.  Even with teaching full time, two young children, and another child on the way, Arvilla completed her education.  Ultimately, at nearly 50 years of age, Arvilla continued her education, completing some 66 Masters hours in coursework that interested her.

After accepting a position with Martin Marietta, the family settled in Colorado where the Arvilla raised six children in the Columbine area. Arvilla and her husband were leading members of the community members, serving for more than 50 years, with Arvilla teaching at newly opened schools and Ted’s and two of close friends starting sports leagues for young area athletes under the name of the Columbine Sports Association. This LLC was transferred back to the Jeffco Sports Association in 1993 when Ted retired. Committed to importance of community and education, Arvilla firmly believed that a sound education was the first critical step toward preparing young children of for the world they face ahead, a fundamental requirement for a prosperous nation.

Arvilla has always believed that every child has the capacity for great learning, and teachers need only to find the vehicle by which the student receives the information most effectively, that “every child deserves a champion -- an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be" ~ Rita Pierson.  Arvilla has always been that champion, that advocate, that warrior for children.

After retirement, Arvilla yet again focused toward building a better community and working to serve the needs of others.  Rather than putting her feet up at retirement, Arvilla became one of the two Charter Members of the Southwest Regional Women's Group, a women's organization centered on community work on behalf of women and family issues in the areas of health and education. Annually, the organization assists families by donating backpacks filled with school supplies specific to area elementary schools, undertakes food drives to restock the food pantry at the Action Center in Jefferson County, and hosting of an annual celebration empowering woman and their uniqueness.

Arvilla has touched so many lives with her work and dedication to others.  We honor the woman, the wife, the daughter, the mother, the aunt, the friend, the mentor, and the educator that she has been throughout her life. Arvilla has been an inspiration, to young and old, of what can be accomplished if you are dedicated to making a difference.  We will miss her amazing mind, her devotion to family, her fierce dedication, her steadfast nature, her beloved advocacy, and her fearless resolve.  Godspeed, my dear mother.  Our father awaits you.

Arvilla's life will be celebrated:  Monday, December 27, 2021, 11:15am, Fort Logan National Cemetery, 3698 South Sheridan Boulevard, Denver, CO 80236, Staging Area C:

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a Memorial Donation in Arvilla Hanson's name to The Denver Hospice, the region’s leading, largest, and most trusted not-for-profit provider of life-enhancing hospice and palliative care, offering more expertise, more resources and a more complete continuum of compassionate care to patients facing life-limiting illnesses and end-of-life transition:

https://thedenverhospice.org/giving/give-donate/

All memorial gifts will be acknowledged with a card to the person you designate and remain local. Please tell us whom you wish to remember, and the name and address of the person we should notify of your gift.