Lois June Hanson, 93 (McGinnis; Redman)

Dec. 17, 1923 – Feb. 25, 2017

Lois was born in Kellogg, Idaho, the third of Joe and Ruth McGinnis’ six children. While still a toddler, the family moved to Palouse, Wash., where she resided for the next 45 years of her life.

In her senior year of high school, she was the lead actress in the school play, which was selected as the regional representative to the national school play competition in Illinois, following which talent scouts offered her a Hollywood screen test. However, though she always retained a strong attraction to the theater, her priority was to return to Palouse, where in May 1941 she married Bernard Redman and together they operated their wheat farm and raised three children, Patsy, Ted and Eric.

Through the years in Palouse, Lois was active in the community, volunteering as a scout den mother, 4-H leader, PTA and Grange leader, and with other community activities and organizations. In the mid-1950s, son Eric submitted a nominating letter and she was selected by the Spokesman-Review as the Inland Empire Mother of the Year.

Bernard died unexpectedly in 1965 and in 1966 Lois married Raymond Hanson, a neighboring farmer, warmly welcoming his three children into her life. Raymond had invented and manufactured the hillside combine leveler, and his manufacturing sideline soon flourished and superseded the farming operations. They relocated to Spokane and Lois became her husband’s executive assistant as the business grew, and achieved a prominent place in the Spokane business community. For 43 years, until her husband’s death in 2009, she worked at his side as they traveled the world to facilitate the growth of their company, as well as celebrating and nourishing the lives of their children and families when in residence in Spokane.

After Raymond died, Lois moved to her lake home in Sandpoint, Idaho, where she was constantly surrounded by the love and affection of her large family, who were the greatest joy of her life.

Lois is survived by her three children, Patricia McAtee (Frayne) of Rathdrum, Idaho, Theodore Redman (Joan) of Spokane, Wash., and Eric Redman (Susan) of Spirit Lake, Idaho. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; and her sister, Yvonne Bodker of Spokane. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Bernard; her second husband, Raymond; brothers Warren and Don; sisters Helen and Betty Jo; and her grandson, David.

A celebration of her life will be held at noon Saturday, March 11, 2017, at Heritage Funeral Home. Visitation will be available preceding the service.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Lois’ caregiver, Kathy Jacobson, who for the last several years has tended to Lois with love, compassion, friendship and the greatest care possible.

Please make any memorial contributions to the charity of your choice.

“Thou God Seest Me” — Genesis 16:13