Yuma County, Colorado Photographs

Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:

Albert J. and Luella (Stamm) Hansen,  Happyville

In 1900 Dundy County, Nebraska, Albert born Feb 1885 in Nebraska, is one of five kids of Christine  Hansen, born June 1855 in Denmark.  She said she was married.

In 1910 Albert is farming in Yuma County, single.

Albert proved up on two quarters in 7 and 18, 1S 47W in 1918.

In 1920 Yuma County Albert and Luella have Thomas 8, Marvin 7, Eugene 5, and Velma 1, all born in Colorado.

In 1920 both Albert and Ella were officers of the Pleasant Valley Monthly Meeting of Friends, with an address of Benkelman.  So they must have retained ties to Benkelman even while they were homesteading.

In 1922 Albert was paid $18.56 for working on county roads.

Luella A. (Stamm) Hansen, daughter of John and Maggie Stamm, was born on the family farm north of Benkelman, Nebr. on May 24, 1889, and passed away at the Dundy County Hospital of a heart attack on Sept. 15, 1978, at the age of 89 years, 3 months, and 22 days. At the age of 17, she was the secretary of the Pleasant Valley Sunday School. She was united in marriage to Albert J. Hansen Dec. 18, 1910 at Benkelman, Nebr. and she and her husband established their home on the homestead in Yuma County, Colo., 11 miles southeast of Yuma. To this happy union five children were born: Thomas, Marvin, Eugene, Velma, and Margie. The family attended the Bethel Nazarene Church near Yuma, Colo. and she was converted into the Christian Faith at the age of 31 years.

In March of 1926, the family moved to Dundy County and continued their occupation of farming in the Pleasant Valley community, transferring their membership to the Pleasant Valley Friends Church where they worshiped together and Luella continued to be a loyal and faithful member as long as her health permitted, continuing her membership with the Benkelman Friends Church until her death. She used her God-given talents to the Glory of her Master, teaching Sunday School, helping with music, and giving unselfishly of her time and efforts to promote the missionary program of her church Ella, as she was personally known by those who knew her, was a kind and loving person. She was an efficient homemaker, a devoted wife and loving mother and was always ready to respond to the needs of her family and neighbors. In the fall of 1947, she and her husband retired from the farm and moved to Benkelman. They enjoyed their retirement home, but never lost touch with the farm.

After her husband passed away on April 5, 1955, she continued to live alone until Sept. 1973 and was then a resident of the Hester Home until her final illness. Memories of her will always include seeing her busy working in her garden and yard and using her skills of needlework. The articles of crocheting, tatting, and quilting created by her nimble fingers will be fondly cherished by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert J.; her parents; three brothers, Frank, Ernest, and William; four sisters, Delia and Lucy, (Mary and Elizabeth died in infancy) three grandsons, Val Gene Hansen, Maurice Hansen, and Frankie Hansen, and one great-grandson, Donnie Gene Hansen. The family members surviving her include three sons: Thomas J. and wife Mabel, Marvin M. and wife Velma, Eugene A. and wife Mable of Benkelman; and two daughters, Velma Case and husband Wilbur of Benkelman, and Margie Bartels and husband Gustav of Wauneta; twelve grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Roy Stamm and wife Erma, Forrest Stamm and wife Martha., two sisters-in-law, Zella Stamm and Della Stamm all of Benkelman;: and a number of nephews and nieces.

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Printed in the Benkelman, NE Post, April 1955

Albert J. Hansen was laid at rest in the Benkelman cemetery Saturday afternoon following funeral services at the Methodist church at which Rev. Glen Morford officiated, assisted by Rev. Joe Hodges. The singers were Mrs.Dorothea Hodges, Dewey Gerdes, Edward Masters and Mrs. Ernestine Hendrickson, accompanied by Mrs. Ruby Holliman. Pallbearers were Tom Humphrey, Ray Brayard, Sherman Phifer, Frank Little, Albert Dyke and Fred Turman. Funeral arrangements were in charge of the Laughlin Funeral Home. Albert J. Hansen, son of George and Christine Hansen, was born February 13, 1885, at Omaha, Nebraska, and passed away very suddenly at Benkelman, Nebraska, on April 5, 1955, at the age of 70 years, one month and 22 days When two years old he moved with his parents to their homestead twelve miles northeast of Parks, Nebraska. In the spring of 1908 he went to Yuma county Colo., and filed on a homestead, improving it a year later. Thus he experienced the hardships of pioneer life in both Dundy county, Nebraska, and Yuma county, Colorado.

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Printed in the Benkelman, NE Post, September 1999

 Eugene Albert "Gene" Hansen Eugene Albert "Gene" Hansen, 84, died Saturday, Aug. 28, 1999, at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman, Neb.

 He was born Dec. 19, 1914, at Yuma County, Colo., to A.J. and Luella (Stamm) Hansen. He received his education in country schools in Yuma and Dundy counties. On Jan. 18, 1938, he was united in marriage with Mabel Nellie Little at the family farm north of Parks, Neb. He farmed and raised Black Angus cattle and retired in 1980 due to declining health. He was a member of the Friends Church. He was preceded in death by his parents and both sons, Maurice and Frankie. Survivors include his wife, Mabel, of Benkelman; two sisters: Velma Case of Benkelman and Margie and husband, Gus Bartels, of Wauneta, Neb.; two sisters-in-law: Wilda Alsbury and Delores Conley; a brother-in-law, Charles Little and his wife, Ingred; a grandson, and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 1999, at the Friends Church in Benkelman with the Rev. Robert Sander officiating. Mary Baney was the organist and Robert and Carol Sander sang "How Great Thou Art," "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" and "Beyond The Sunset." Bearers were Mikey, Jamey, Monte and Dorey Hansen, Clifford Damrow and Elmer Case. Honorary bearers were Wilfred and Stan Hansen, Lyle Wiese, Gus Bartels, Duane Wilson and Jim Baney. Interment was in the Benkelman Cemetery. Arrangements were by Forch Funeral Chapel of Benkelman.

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Velma Helen (Hansen) Case, 93, died Friday, May 17, 2011 at her home in Benkelman. Velma was born March 21, 1918, to Albert (Bib) and Luella (Stamm) Hansen at their rural home in Yuma County, Colorado.

Velma attended her first two years of school in rural Colorado before moving with her family to Dundy County, Nebraska, where she completed her eighth grade in the rural schools. She graduated from Benkelman High School in 1936, and then taught for two years in rural schools in Dundy County.

She attended Hastings Business College after which she was employed as a a secretary for the Druliner and Hines Law Offices and the county agriculture office.

On Sept. 26, 1940, she was united in marriage to Wilbur Case at the home of her parents, north of Benkelman. They settled in a little house near the sod house that had been Wilbur's family home in Cheyenne County, Kansas. After three and a half years of marriage, they ventured out and purchased the farm just east of Max, Nebraska, where they brought up their two sons, Elmer Lee and James Charles. Wilbur and Velma retired to their new home in Benkelman in June of 1978, when Elmer and his new bride, Tally, took over the farming operation.

At the age of seven years, Velma gave her life to Christ at the little Nazarene Church in Colorado, and at the age of 14, she dedicated her life to Christ at the Pleasant Valley Church in Dundy County.

After their marriage, Wilbur and Velma were active in the South Fork church in Cheyenne County, Kansas. After their move to Nebraska, they became active in the Christian Union Church in Stratton and later they joined the Methodist Church in Benkelman. They participated in the choir and together they sang for many funerals.

Velma taught Sunday school and Bible school for many years. She was a member of the United Methodist Women and the Women's Club, where she served as president. She was a pianist and organist, serving as organist at the Methodist church until past her 90th birthday.

The harmony of Velma's family was a real delight to her. They all enjoyed being together, blending their voices in music and working together at the farm where Velma learned to be adept at operating the farm machinery and raising a garden. She loved to keep house and was an expert at sewing as she made many garments for herself and especially liked to sew for her granddaughters. She also taught her granddaughters the art of sewing.

One of the highlights of Velma and Wilbur's life was the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary, when the entire family gave a musical concert remembering the events of the their lives.

Velma and Wilbur were privileged to travel together to visit their sons while in college, and also enjoyed several tours to places of interest including the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts, and Hawaii.

Velma was blessed with much joy and pride in her sons and their wives, her seven granddaughters, and her first great-grandson.

She passed peacefully to her heavenly home on June 17, 2011, while doing her routine household activities. Her life Scripture was Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord will all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Velma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wilbur; three brothers and their wives, Tom and Mabel Hansen, Marvin and Velma Hansen, Eugene and Mabel Hansen; brother-in-law, Gus Bartels; and in-laws, Lyle and Ida Case, Ruby and Cecil Holliman, Dwight and Iris Case and Dwayne Case.

She is survived by her two sons and their wives, Elmer and Tally Case of Max and Jim and Ruth Case of Burton, Michigan; seven granddaughters, Beth Case and Becky Case of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, Wendy Case of Cleveland, Ohio, Maria Case of Dearborn, Michigan, Heather and husband, Billy Walker of Del Rio, Texas, Christina Case of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Annette and husband, Wooddy Miller of Fairburn, Ohio; one great-grandson. Michael Walker; her sister, Margie Bartels of Wauneta, Nebraska; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Interment was in the Benkelman Cemetery, Benkelman, NE.

Published McCook Daily Gazette, McCook, NE. 06/21/2011 
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