Obituary - Jewel E. "Darling" Hanson

Jewel E. "Darling" Hanson, 87, passed away from natural causes at her residence in Billings, Montana.

Her daughter, Jewel, cared for her in their home until her passing on July 12, 2015. A family graveside service is being planned for a later date.

Jewel was born on April 11, 1928, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, to Robert and Bea Chatwin. She was raised in Winnipeg and worked there as a model in her younger adult years. In 1951 she happened to pass through Havre on a road trip with some friends, where she met her future husband, Harold Hanson. The couple went on to write letters back and forth until Harold traveled to Winnipeg six months later. They married three days after he arrived in Winnipeg, and Jewel moved to Havre with him two days after that. They welcomed their first child, Bobby, in 1953, followed by three more children in the years to come - Jewel, Penny, and Hal.

Tragically, their son Bobby drowned at Fresno Reservoir in 1961. Jewel forever had a hole in her heart from the loss of her sweet little boy, and now she is finally able to be with him again.

During her years living in Havre, Jewel worked in numerous retail stores, and is remembered for pulling people in off the streets of Havre and giving them no choice to but to shop in the store she worked. Her desire to work in retail stemmed from her love of fashion. Jewel always noticed the shoes and attire others were wearing and never missed an opportunity to compliment them. Just weeks before her death, her fashion sense was still going strong.

In 1979, Jewel and Harold moved to Billings, where they both continued to live until their passing. While in Billings, Jewel loved spending time with her grandchildren, and in later years, she got to enjoy time with her great-grandchildren as well. Every child, grandchild and great-grandchild will remember her for her love of knitting and crocheting. She could knit a blanket in no time, and each of them has numerous blankets to prove it.

Jewel is preceded in death by her husband, Harold Hanson; her son, Robert "Bobby" Hanson; her granddaughter, "Baby Jewel" Brouwer; parents, Robert and Bea Chatwin; and brother Jim Chatwin.

She is survived by her sister, Jan Bayly of Winnipeg, Manitoba; her daughters, Jewel Hanson of Billings and Penelope "Penny" (Don) Shuwarger of Alamogordo, New Mexico; her son, Harold "Hal" (Marlys) Hanson of Havre; grandchildren, Summer (Josh) Martin, Samantha Brouwer, Brad (Traci) Svee, Doug (Kenzie) Svee, Chris Svee, Melissa Svee, Michelle (Raymond) Keller and Garrett (Jena) Hanson; and seven great-grandchildren.