Obituary - Mary Belle Hanberg

Mary Belle Hanberg, 92, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, of natural causes at the Big Sandy Medical Center.

Cremation has taken place, and a burial will be held at a later date. Mary's family has requested that memorial donations be made in her name to the Big Sandy Library Fund, to the Dedman Foundation in Fort Benton or to the charity of the donor's choice.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Please visit Mary's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Mary was born on Aug. 16, 1922, in Havre to Earl and Grace (Smith) Booth. She spent her early childhood years in Havre, moving to the Bear Paws with her family in about 1930. Mary graduated from Box Elder High School in 1938, and married Laurence Craft. The couple's union was blessed with two children, and they later divorced.

Mary attended Northern Montana College, receiving a teaching certificate, and taught in the Bear Paws and at Gildford schools. In 1946, she married Lloyd Hanberg, and their union was blessed with one child. The couple made their home in Box Elder, and, beginning in 1951, Mary drove school bus until 1960, when her medical condition required her to retire. Lloyd passed away in 1963, and Mary remained in their home until 2005, when she entered the Big Sandy Medical Center.

Mary loved flower gardening, crocheting, reading and watching TV, especially "Minute To Win It."

She is preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Hanberg; her sister, Earline Haakensen; and her parents, Earl and Grace Booth.

Mary is survived by her son, Jerome (Rosanne) Hanberg of Camrose, Alberta, Canada; her daughters, Anitra (Kenny) Willson of Neihart and Twila (Leon) Cline of Big Sandy; her 11 grandchildren; her several great-grandchildren; her many great-great-grandchildren; her nephew Fred Haakensen of Plainview, Texas; and her niece, Ruda Marshall of Helena.