Hanna M. Zavoral, 99, died Wednesday, November 5, 2008, at Oakland Park Communities in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 pm Monday, November 10, 2008 at Abundant Life Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Wesley Langaas officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 until 8:00 PM Sunday with a 7:00 PM prayer service at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held from 2:00 until time of services on Monday at the church.

On June 17, 1909, a beautiful baby girl was born in Erie, Minnesota, where she grew to become a beautiful woman. Hannah Mae Baird was the youngest of five children born to George Schyler and Anna Mabel (Lattimore) Baird. Hannahs mother Anna died when Hannah was seven years old and her sister-in-law, Joren Baird helped her father George Baird with her care and became a mother substitute to the child.

On November 21, 1927 at the age of 18, Hannah married a short, stocky, jolly young fellow, Emily Henry Zavoral. Emils Bohemian ethnicity showed in his short legs, stocky barrel-chested body, and wide hands. The couple farmed near Goodridge, MN until Emil went to work at Land-O-Lakes in Thief River Falls. At that time they moved to Thief River Falls. After Emil retired, he and Hannah worked part-time cleaning the Pennington County Courthouse building.

Along the way, they produced three charming daughters, Wilma Marie, born June 29, 1929, Alice Fern, born May 3, 1931, and Gladys Emma, born October 30, 1933. The daughters proceeded to grow up through tough times which included the Great Depression and each married a handsome young man. Between them, they produced 13 grandchildren for the Zavorals. In turn, those grandchildren produced 25 great grandchildren currently ranging in age from 7 to 31 years old. To date Hannah has happily welcomed 12 great great grandchildren.

She was known for her sewing and crafting abilities " until recently she sewed the best, most effective oven mitts you will ever use " and sold them for $5 per pair. She also loved gardening, even in small spaces or flower pots, taking great joy and satisfaction in planting and watching things grow. She loved to do Find-a-Word puzzles, even erasing puzzles she had already completed in order to work them again. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle was a motto she didnt create, but she definitely lived it. And if ever we needed a box or a certain kind of fabric or a note pad or a sewing utensil, Grandma could dig it out of one of her stashes. Like many who lived through hard times, she rarely threw out anything that could be used again or repurposed. And until very recently she still whistled while she worked on her puzzles or her sewing.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Emil; daughter, Gladys Janzen; son-in-law, Gordon Olson; grandson, Douglas Nelson; great great grandson, Grady Nelson; parents; and siblings, Florence, Arthur, Floyd and an infant brother.

Survivors include daughters, Wilma Olson and Alice (Gene) Nelson of Thief River Falls, MN; son-in-law, Orville Janzen of Elk River, MN; 12 grandchildren, Deborah (Mike) Waterworth, David (Mary) Nelson, Steven (Jeana) Nelson, Darrel (Melanie) Nelson, Grant (Lisa) Nelson, Kathryn Olson, Scott (Margaret) Olson, Bryan (Polly) Olson, Jane (Murray) Anderson, Dan (Jodi) Janzen, Kim (Rob) Klegstad, Tom (Melissa) Janzen; 25 great grandchildren, Ana, Cayler, & Beth Olson, Max, Will & Emma Anderson, Reed Waterworth, Ryan (Kristin), Erin, Sara, Jamie (Kristy), & Derek Nelson, Lynel Svir, Andy Anderson, Danielle (Tony) Kuznia, Zach, Brianna, Danielle, Bailie, Jonathon, Emma, & Josie Janzen, Katy (Andrew) Johnson, Sean & Meghan Klegstad; 12 great great grandchildren, Jaden & Ryan Johnson, Peyton & Casey Nelson, Madison & Nicholas Svir, Justin Anderson, Aarron & Tevin Douglas, Cade Kuznia, Kira & Madison Olson; and several nieces and nephews.

What a remarkable woman! Yet she didnt seem to think there was anything special about a woman who had walked where she walked, seen what she saw, done what she did.

Organist: Phyllis Dalager
Soloist: Jane Anderson Blessed Assurance , The Lords Prayer & Forever Young
Soloist: David Nelson How Great Thou Art
Violinists: Max Anderson & Braydon Drevlow Ashokan Farewell
Eulogist: Kathy Olson
Congregational Hymn: In The Garden #398
Casketbearers: David Nelson, Steven Nelson, Darrel Nelson, Grant Nelson, Scott Olson, Bryan Olson, Dan Janzen, Tom Janzen