Susan R. Hansen

Funeral services for Susan R. Hansen, age 78, of Norfolk, will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 1, 2023, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Norfolk. Reverend Randy Rasmussen will officiate, with burial in Rose Hill Cemetery, south of McLean, Nebraska.

Visitation with the family will be Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Home for Funerals Chapel, 708 Georgia Avenue, Norfolk.

Susan passed peacefully from this world in the early morning hours on Sunday, November 26, 2023, at Heritage of Bel-Air.

Susan Raye (Douglass) Hansen was born on Armistice Day, November 11, 1945, in Huntington Beach, California, to Don and Dolores (Carlock) Douglass, while Don was serving in the U.S. Army. After being discharged from the service, the family moved back to Nebraska where they lived in Benkelman, O’Neill, and then settled in Neligh. Susan was baptized at the age of 18 along with her sister, Dianne, at the United Methodist Church in Neligh. Susan attended Neligh High School where she graduated in the class of 1964.

Susan then married Gary Taylor of Clearwater in May of 1964. To this marriage of over 25 years, three sons were born: Scott, David, and Craig. Susan was a busy mother during this period of raising three boys and working full time in the Antelope County Assessor’s office, first as office staff, then Deputy Assessor, then two terms as the Assessor. The three boys could be seen wearing “Vote for Mom” T-shirts around town. While she found the job rewarding, it certainly was not always easy being the “tax lady.” During this time, Susan helped care for two nephews, Joe and Tim Taylor, for several years, making a family of seven to feed.

In the fall of 1985, Susan, Gary, David, and Craig moved to Georgetown, Texas, where Susan worked for a lawyer for two years before moving back to Neligh. The family then moved to Pierce where Susan and Gary served as Youth Group leaders at the Pierce United Methodist Church. During this time, she worked as the Executive Secretary at Christ Lutheran Church of Norfolk for a number of years until her health forced her to retire earlier than she would have liked.

In 1991, Susan met and married Kenneth Hansen of Norfolk and welcomed his three children: Brenda Sparks, Jeff Hansen, and Mike Hansen. Susan and Ken lived in Woodland Park and organized many celebrations there. They were both very active in their church, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Norfolk, where they both sang in the choir. Susan used her many gifts and talents to make costumes, scenery, and props and to organize and present beautiful cantatas at Easter and Christmas. Susan recently recalled the choir and congregation as her “family.”

After retiring from work, Susan began “Sue’s Beads and Blooms,” a craft business from home to help her take her mind off of the chronic pain and to use her God-given gifts. She made numerous floral arrangements for family and friends, for her granddaughters’ weddings, as well as for sale at her son’s business, The Osmond Pharmacy, and numerous craft shows.

Also, during this time, Susan and Ken traveled to places near and far. To name just a few: Colorado, Missouri, Alaska, and even a Caribbean cruise. They loved staying at the Hilton Hotel in Omaha where Ken’s son Mike was a chef. Susan loved a party and was a great party planner—be it a class or family reunion, a Christmas get-together, or a 60th birthday party. She loved people and food and being together! She was even planning events for the folks at Bel-Air to enjoy!

Susan loved welcoming each of her grandchildren and thoroughly enjoyed attending as many events as she could. Her grandchildren include Erin (Brett) Suckstorf of Pierce, Emily (Tom) Hatesohl of Salina, KS, Braden (Sydney) Taylor of Pierce, Kaleb Taylor of Pierce, Keah Taylor of Bennington, Kyla Taylor of Wisner, and JacLyn Hoebelheinrich of Plainview. Step-grandchildren include Amber Sparks, Tim Sparks, Nicole Spangler, and Cristen Janssen and Jermey Hansen. Susan was also blessed to see and celebrate 14 great-grandchildren and five step great-grandchildren.

As her chronic pain worsened and Ken’s health declined, they clung to their faith and did as much as they could. Ken passed away in February of 2020, and Susan became a resident of Bel-Air in May of 2021.

Susan is survived by her sons, Scott (Debbie) Taylor of Pierce, David (Tara) Taylor of Wisner, and Craig (Sue) Taylor of Plainview; as well as stepchildren, Brenda Sparks (Mike Kemp) of Norfolk, Mike (Sandra) Hansen of Omaha; her beloved sister, Dianne Horst of Omaha; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Don Douglass, Dolores Douglass; stepmom, Agnes Douglass; her husband, Ken; and stepson, Jeff Hansen.

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