Hansena Swanson: An Inspiring Senior Story of Love, Loss, and Laughter
Hansena Swanson’s Journey Through Love, Loss, and Laughter
Hansena Swanson (née Olson) was born in a farmhouse near Newfolden, Minnesota in 1936. The winters were long, the landscape quiet—fields stretching for miles—and while she loved the stillness, she admits it wasn’t always enough. “Living in the country was great,” she told me, “but it always felt like the girls in town had more going on; more opportunity.” That sense of wanting more—more opportunity, more connection, more life—never really left her.
She met her future husband, Marvin, at a Christmas dance in 1954. When I asked who pursued whom, she laughed and said, “I think I unknowingly pursued him!” They married the following summer over the July 4th weekend in a simple, country wedding. Hansena planned every detail herself—except for the honeymoon accommodations in Thief River Falls, which she left to Marvin. When it became clear he hadn’t made a reservation, she sprang into action. Unfortunately, since it was a holiday weekend, the only available option was what she described as a “sleeze-bag motel.” For years afterward, when friends asked why she was always in charge of travel plans, she’d smile and say, “Ask Marvin!”
Hansena knew early on that she wanted to be a young mom, in part because her own parents—who married later in life at 40 and 50—often felt a bit out of step with the world she was growing up in. She had her son Jeff at 21, followed by her daughter Tamra two years later. Family has been the constant thread running through everything she’s done since. Close friendships have been just as important. Devon, one of her four grandchildren, told her that she had shaped her life more than she probably realizes.
One of the delightful aspects of Hansena and Marvin’s 68-year marriage was their playful cultural rivalry—she’s proudly Norwegian, and Marvin was Swedish. “I taught the kids to say: ten thousand Swedes ran through the weeds chased by one Norwegian!” Marvin would always come back with, “Well, that Norwegian fellow must have been part Swedish!”
When Marvin used the GI Bill to go to college and earn his master’s degree, Hansena called it “a big bonus” for the whole family—one of those moments when life opened up a little wider. In 1958, they moved to the Imperial Valley in California. Hansena took a seasonal job with a produce company, advising farmers on how much to harvest. “The farmers didn’t exactly love being told what to do,” she said with a grin. “Especially by a woman.” She enjoyed the work, but not the pay gap. “I worked hard—but I couldn’t get the salary the guys did.”
Over the years, she held many more jobs—roles that built resilience, sharpened her perspective, and gave her an endless supply of stories. At 65, when many are winding down, Hansena began her final job in hospitality at the Quail Lodge in Carmel. She stayed there for ten years. “Pay equity was a little better,” she said. “But not great. Probably still isn’t.” Through every workplace challenge, she credits her sense of humor as her secret weapon: “Laughing about things de-stresses a situation.”
Two years ago, Hansena lost Marvin. It’s a loss that would level most people—but not Hansena. She remains grounded by the love of her tight-knit, fiercely loyal family and lifelong friends. I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with her family, and what stands out most is how deeply they love and care for their mom.
Hansena has been living with Parkinson’s Disease for the last sixteen years, and here’s what I can tell you: she doesn’t wallow, doesn’t complain, and never lets it define her. That’s not to say it’s been easy. This unpredictable disease has tested her strength, patience, and independence in deeply personal ways. There are many hard days. And still, she shows up with grace. She’s quick with a joke, opinionated in the best way, effortlessly stylish (she wears the coolest mismatched earrings), and is entirely herself.
She reminds me—and all of us—that strength doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it wears lipstick, tells a great story, and just keeps moving forward.
Goodwell’s Proust Inspired Questionnaire: Getting to Know Hansena Swanson
What do you consider your greatest achievement in life?
Raising a family
What does perfect happiness look like for you?
It doesn’t exist
How are you feeling today?
I always say I’m feeling fine, whether I am or not
What is your favorite hobby or activity?
Being with family and friends
What possession do you hold most dear?
My closet
Who or what has been the greatest love of your life?
Different ones at different times. Different affections. I can’t be definitive. I’ve grown to admire people I never thought I could
What is your favorite trip or journey you’ve taken?
We’ve had so many. We loved surprising family in Minnesota. We would drive out from California and just show up to special gatherings!
How would you describe your most distinctive trait?
My outgoingness. Whatever that is!
When and where have you felt the happiest in your life?
I don’t know. I’ve felt happy in various situations; in achievements and at gatherings
What is something you strongly dislike?
Tackiness
What is your greatest fear?
It changes with the times
What is the most extravagant thing you have ever indulged in?
I’ve been extravagant in many ways and places, but I don’t consider any of them to have been great!
Is there someone you find particularly difficult to admire?
Yes. Politicians! I’m most disappointed in them
What is your greatest regret?
Not learning to speak Norwegian
If you could possess any talent, what would it be?
Music
If you could spend a month anywhere, where would it be?
Norway
What do you think represents the lowest depth of misery?
I don’t know how to answer that
What quality do you most appreciate in friends or companions?
Flexibility
Who is your favorite character from a book or film, and why?
Perry Mason
Who are your real-life heroes?
A lot. I don’t know which one to say. I have a lot of heroes
Which living person do you admire the most?
Edgar Haber – founder of Quail Lodge in Carmel (he passed away in 2005, but he was much admired and kept a dog in his office before it was fashionable!)
What do you think is the most overrated virtue?
Looks, appearance
In what situations do you feel the need to be less than honest?
If it will hurt somebody
Are there any words or phrases you find yourself using often?
You’d have to ask somebody else!
If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
I wouldn’t be so afraid to take chances
What names do you find most appealing?
None particularly
How would you prefer to be remembered after your passing?
For my sense of humor
If you could come back in another form, what would it be?
I don’t know
What is your personal motto or guiding principle?
Don’t make waves. I don’t think that fits!