Susie Elnora Hanson

Susie Elnora (Bales) Hanson, lovingly known as “Sue,” passed away on August 7, 2026, at the age of 98 in Glendale, Arizona, surrounded by her family.

Sue was born on March 5, 1928, in Humboldt, Nebraska, to Justin Earl Bales and Louisey Ellen (Burgess) Bales. She was the sixth of seven children and spent her youth in Nebraska, Missouri, and Colorado.

In 1945, while volunteering at Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Aurora, Colorado, Sue met her future husband, Carl “Bob” Hanson. On May 7, 1946, Bob and Sue drove to St. Francis, Kansas, where they were married. The judge who married them jokingly “sentenced” them to 75 years of marriage. Sue recently remarked that she had definitely kept her part of the bargain. Together, they built a life filled with family, travel, laughter, and countless memories.

All three of their children were born while the family lived in Colorado: Sharon Sue in 1947, Robert Lee in 1950, and Lillian Jeanette in 1957. In the spring of 1960, the family moved to Arizona, where the family continued to grow, eventually including five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Sue had a lifelong love of baseball, which began in July 1950 while she was in the hospital giving birth to Robert. She watched a Dodgers game on television from her hospital room and was hooked. Over the years, Bob and Sue enjoyed attending Padres Spring Training games while living in Yuma. When the Arizona Diamondbacks franchise began playing in Phoenix in 1998, Sue became a season ticket holder and proudly followed the team for many years.

Sue also had a great love of reading, until declining eyesight made it too difficult. She was known to buy seven Harlequin romance novels at the grocery store each week and finish one book a day. In later years, she upgraded to Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb novels.

She was also one of the best “self-taught" cooks and bakers around. She was the hit of many Hanson and Bales family reunions and her Christmas cookies were always treasured. Sue had a special way of showing her love through food, and family members knew that something she had cooked or baked was always made with love.

Gardening was another favorite pastime. Her roses, lawn, and citrus trees were always well cared for and reflected the pride she took in her home.

Sue and Bob also loved road trips, traveling to visit family in California, Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Missouri, Minnesota, and North Dakota. These trips created many fond memories. She also enjoyed the occasional getaway to Las Vegas and Laughlin to play her favorite slot machines. And no road trip to California was complete without a stop at Disneyland, which became a favorite destination for the entire family.

Above all, Sue’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were the highlight of her life. They were always at the forefront of her thoughts, worries and prayers and brought her immeasurable joy. Each of her family members share some of the things Sue loved most—baseball, reading, cooking, gardening, and traveling. To say that she rubbed off on them would not be far from the truth.

Sue lived over 98 years, leaving behind a legacy of love, family, strength, and countless memories. She had a strong sense of right and wrong and would stand up for what she believed in. She was sharp as a tack right up to the end and surprised most medical professionals in regard to how smart and healthy she was. We are all better off because she was here. We will deeply miss her love, wisdom, strength, stubbornness, and sassiness—and all the little things that made her uniquely Sue, Mom and Grandma.

Sue was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bob; her daughter, Lillian Stratmann; her son-in-law, Richard Stratmann; her parents; and her six siblings.

She is survived by her children, Sharon Cookman and Robert (Shelly) Hanson; grandchildren, Eric (Carmen) Cookman, Holly Hanson, Paul Cookman, Joy Hanson, and Heather Hanson; and great-grandchildren, Mark Cookman, Michael (Faith) Cookman, and Matthew Cookman. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, JoAnn Heckenlaible and Deloris Feldman; brothers-in-law, Lynn Hanson and Thomas Hanson; and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.