Arla Mae graduated from Nebraska City High School where one of her favorite classes was Latin which explains why she could spell anything, loved doing crossword puzzles, and was a Wheel of Fortune whiz. She loved being a farm girl and riding her horse, Star, yet enjoyed working in town. In Nebraska City, Arla Mae met her handsome, fresh out of the Navy, Danish husband who gave her motorcycle and airplane rides. As a carpenter, Paul got a job out of state in 1949 so they just HAD to elope to Medicine Lodge, Kansas and were married nearly 68 years! There were other construction jobs in other locations until they settled down in Lincoln, Nebraska.
They had 4 children in 5 years while living in the Wesleyan area. One day in 1963 Paul told Arla Mae they needed to get these kids out of the big city and they moved! She said it happened almost that fast when they moved to a Bennet acreage and back to her beloved “farm-life” with gardening, splitting lots of wood, a few pigs, a milk cow, cats, a dog or two, lots of ponies, and herding kids!
Over the years, Arla Mae worked in Lincoln at Gooch, Eldon Watch, Russell Stover, and a computer office. She also worked at Miller and Paine in the yarn department where she eventually taught customers to knit. Friends wanted to learn also, so for several years she taught knitting classes in homes in the area.
Arla Mae was affiliated with Christian Women’s Club, Stonecroft Bible Studies, Danish Sisterhood of America #90, Get-to-Gether Extension Club of Lancaster County, American Legion Auxiliary #280, Cornhusker Early Ford V-8 Club, and the National Woodie Club.
Arla Mae loved her family and attended every and all school activities over the years. She and Paul took a Spanish language class one year anticipating visiting with their grandchildren. She loved family reunions, fishing, camping, and boating. She also loved kaleidoscopes, carousels, collecting blue glass, doing puzzles, and attending car shows with their vintage cars and meeting with the car-people all across America. Also she enjoyed Husker Volleyball and watching her family get excited about Husker Football. A few years ago, while in the hospital, Arla Mae was visited in her room by some Husker players, who had lost their game the weekend before. She greeted them and immediately asked why they weren’t practicing! She and they all laughed as they gave her their autographs which she proudly hung on her bulletin board at home. Arla Mae also watched NASCAR and Pro Bull Riding with Paul. Funny thing was she rooted for the bulls and even had a favorite: Bodacious!
Most of all, Arla Mae was a Prayer Warrior for all those she knew or even heard about that had a need! She will be missed!
Family members include her children: Randy (Kathy) Hansen of Lenexa, KS, Vicki (Scott) Hatfield of Bennet, NE, Greg (Sharyn) Hansen of Lincoln, NE, and Polly (Uly) Millan of West Simsbury, CT; grandchildren: Libby (Shane) Rosengren of Lincoln, NE, Lexie (Porter) Hampton of Indonesia, Jordan Hatfield of Syracuse, NE, Tyler (Melissa) Hansen of Unadilla, NE, Tsuru Devi Millan Diego of Argentina, & Bianca (Chris) Del Gatto of Wantagh, NY; great-grandchildren: Dane, Arel, Liam, & Heidi Rosengren, Ember, Rehn, Reece, & Midian Hampton, Korrigan O’Neal, Dominick Lange, Abigail, Aylse, & Mallory Hansen, Agustina, Tomas, & Tobias Vitale, Harvey & Hazel Del Gatto; brother-in-law Herbert Hansen of Omaha, NE; also cousins, nephews, & nieces. Preceded in death by parents, 2 brothers, 3 sisters, husband Paul, infant twins (son & daughter), & granddaughters Steffie Hatfield & Halley Hansen.
Celebration of Life is at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 22, 2022, Roper and Sons South Lincoln Chapel, 3950 Hohensee Drive.
Private family inurnment at the Bennet Cemetery.
Memorials to Porter and Lexie Hampton, missionaries in Indonesia
Online: https://ethnos360.org/missionaries/porter-and-lexie-hampton
Mail: Ethnos360
312 West 1st St.
Sanford, FL 32771
Make checks payable to “Ethnos360” and include a note “for the ministry of Porter & Lexie Hampton”