Lurena Hansen Obituary

Lurena Hansen, 94, of Afton, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, January 22, 2026. Celebration of Life services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Powers Funeral Home in Afton, with Chaplain Debbie Spidle officiating. Burial will follow at Grove Chapel Cemetery, south of Creston. Open visitation will be from 2-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 27, 2026, with family receiving friends from 5-7:00 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home in Afton. Memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences can be given at www.powersfh.com.

Lurena Mae (Ruff) Hansen, was the daughter of Clarence Olen and Lorha Leona (Russell) Ruff. She was born May 30, 1931, in Martinsville, Missouri. She began her life in Bethany, Missouri, and her family later moved to the Creston area, where she graduated from Creston High School.

Lurena was united in marriage to John Kenneth Hansen on September 16, 1949, in Bethany, Missouri. John and Lurena farmed near Kent and later moved to a farm south of Thayer, where they raised their two sons, Donald and Tom. While on the farm, Lurena cherished time with her eight grandchildren. She filled their days with painting, scavenger hunts, catching butterflies and pressing them into books, nature walks, and family mushroom hunts. She loved teaching them sign language, baking pies, and making animals from the letters of the alphabet. At the end of long days, she would read stories and tales until they fell asleep. Her love for teaching and nurturing children continued with her great-grandchildren, even tutoring them in cursive writing because she believed it was too important to be forgotten.

When not busy farming or spending time with family, John and Lurena were active members of the Horse and Riders Club and Pleasant Valley Church, where Lurena taught Bible school for many years. In her quiet moments, she enjoyed flowers, gardening, knitting, and painting along with Bob Ross.

Lurena is survived by her son, Tom Hansen (Chris Connelly) of Arispe; 7 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John Hansen; her son, Donald Hansen; granddaughter, Nicki Foland; and her sister, Lela Maxine Ruff.

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