Denise D. Hanson, age 54, of Canby, MN, passed away Sunday, October 12, 2025 at her home in Canby. Funeral service will be 2 pm Friday, October 17, 2025 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Canby with Rev. Levi Bollerud officiating. Burial will be in the Canby City Cemetery, Canby. Visitation will be 5 – 7 pm with a 7 pm Prayer Service on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at the Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby and will resume Friday one hour prior to the service at the church. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in entrusted with the arrangements.
Denise Dorothy Hanson was born on February 13, 1971, in Canby, MN, to Marnell Pederson. In 1975 Marnell married Robert Hanson and shortly after their marriage Robert adopted Denise. She was baptized at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Canby, MN. She attended school in Canby and graduated in 1989. Following graduation she went to community college in Willmar, MN. She then returned to Canby and worked various jobs including the nursing home, several group homes and home health care. Most recently she drove bus for Prairie Five Rides. During her time at Prairie Five the thing she enjoyed most was transporting all of the young children of Canby and they looked forward to seeing her just as much as she looked forward to seeing them. She worked there until March 2025 when she was hospitalized after suffering a stroke. Denise was very active in the community, serving on the city council for a number of years, the board of the MECCA House and supporting her young family members at Canby Lancer sports activities and events. Denise will be best remembered by her family and friends for her big, caring heart and her quick wit and sense of humor. She was always willing to do anything for anyone and was always keeping everyone laughing. The most important thing to Denise was spending time with her family and friends. She enjoyed her yearly girls trips with all of her life-long friends, any family gathering or event and entertaining all of her friends and family with her Facebook memes. She was especially proud of her 3 beloved godchildren, Adam, Samantha and Carter. Denise will be missed by many.
Grateful for having shared her life are her godchildren Adam, Samantha and Carter, her 2 “aunts” Marla (Perry) Groenhoff and Sheryl (Drew) Simonton, their families, as well as all her other family and her dear friends. Denise was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Marnell, her brother Michael, and both maternal and paternal grandparents.
