Trending
MARQUETTE, MI – Mildred Ann "Millie" Hanson, 82, of Marquette, passed away Sunday morning, November 22, 2020, after a courageous battle with several medical conditions at U.P. Health System – Marquette.
Millie was born on February 20, 1938, in Marquette, a daughter of the late Henry and Elsie (Treves) Mayhew. She was a lifelong area resident, a graduate of John D. Pierce High School, and attended Northern Michigan University.
As a young mother, Millie made sure her sons and daughter took part in Junior Hockey and volunteered her time in support of team and tournament activities. She played in the first-ever all mothers hockey game as a member of the Hot Toddies team to raise funds for the program. She brought a "puck eating plant" to help her team.
From a young age, Millie had a strong faith in God and belonged to St. Michael's Parish. She taught CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) classes for young people for over ten years. Her limited mobility restricted regular church attendance, but she maintained an active prayer life until she died.
After raising her family, Millie began working at the Northern Michigan University Bookstore, where both staff and customers alike knew her for her famous smile and sunny disposition. Known as the "Book Lady," she retired from the Bookstore in 2001. During her tenure, she won national awards for her creative store displays. While working full-time, Millie volunteered evenings at the Marquette General Hospital Gift Shop and later, after retirement, joined the volunteers who created favors for hospital food trays on holidays.
For nearly 40 years, she was active in the NMU University Women, an organization for women faculty, spouses of faculty, and women retirees. Most of that time, she served as president, organizing annual Christmas visits to Kaye House that were hosted by the wives of presidents, going back to Dr. James Appleberry. Millie also arranged their spring educational meeting. She displayed a soft-spoken yet very persuasive leadership style that earned respect and affection from the membership.
Millie loved to play card games of all kinds. Family dinners often ended with Chase the Ace or Crazy Eights with young and old energetically engaged in winning the three nickels from the other players. She was a formidable Cribbage player and always a contender in the annual family reunion tournament. Most of all, she cherished games with her Bridge buddies, some of whom date back five decades. She participated in several informal Bridge clubs forming lifelong friends.
Millie enjoyed the many advantages of living near NMU. She attended plays, programs, and football games, including the halftime show. As long as she was able, she loved going to her grandchildren's recitals and hockey games. When her mobility declined, she never complained, expressing appreciation to the many kindnesses extended by friends and strangers alike.
Millie enjoyed living in Marquette and often told people she had a love affair with Lake Superior. Although reluctant to leave the area, April was one month of winter too long, so she took a sojourn to the Redington Beach area of Florida to visit with the many family members and Marquette friends who took refuge there from the cold.
In later years she and her husband Bob spent two weeks in Mexico before enjoying summers at their camp on Martin Lake near Gwinn. Nearly every weekend brought family and friends for swimming, fishing, cookouts, and campfires.
Millie had a gift for encouraging and helping others. Her gentle disposition and warm smile put others immediately at ease. She had a special place in her heart for every person she knew, and they felt it. Despite significant physical and medical challenges, she remained an amazingly positive person. She was a delight to be around.
Millie considered family her greatest blessing. She was the shining star and center of attention for the entire Mayhew Clan, using bonds of love to hold everyone together and moving to the desired objective. She organized and hosted family events at camp, putting together various traditional Christmas gatherings, the annual cookie decorating party, the Christmas eve party, and her month-long February birthday celebration. She left a legacy of happy memories.
Millie called everyone "honey" when she spoke to them. Consequently, her grandchildren began to call her Grandma Honey. Her granddaughter, Lauren said that her Grandma Honey "always lit up the room with her smile and positive energy. She was one of the most intelligent people I knew and one of the most powerful sources of inspiration and motivation in my life".
Millie's survivors include her husband of 37 years, Robert Hanson, whom she married on December 30, 1983. She also had four children; Kathleen (Kim) Frazier of Marquette, Bart Lahtinen of San Diego, California, Greg Lahtinen, and Kurt (Julie) Lahtinen, both of Marquette. Millie had four beloved grandchildren: Ryan Frazier, Scott Frazier, Luke Lahtinen, and Lauren Lahtinen, all in Marquette. Millie's siblings, Michael (Kathleen) Mayhew of Marquette and Pete (Cheryl) Mayhew in Menominee, Michigan, and former spouse Richard Lahtinen of Marquette.
Preceding her in death, besides her parents, were a brother, Henry Mayhew, and two sisters, Marilyn Hillier (Richard) of Munising and Barbara Mayhew, Washington DC.
The family plans a memorial service and celebration of life in the summer of 2021.
The family requests that those wishing to make an expression of sympathy to consider the Elsie Treves Mayhew Scholarship Fund – of Northern Michigan University Foundation, 1400 Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, Michigan 49855 in Millie's memory.
Canale-Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting Millie's family where you may share memories on their website at canalefuneral.com