Jill LuAnn Schafer, 61, of Minnewaukan, ND passed away at her home on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, in the loving care of her family and Hospice of the Red River Valley, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Jill was born on March 11, 1961, to Oscar Jr. and Deanna (Olson) Hanson in Devils Lake, ND. She was baptized, confirmed, and a life-long member of St. Peter Lutheran Church. She attended and graduated from Minnewaukan High School in 1978, where she participated in basketball, cheerleading, and played the drums in band. Her favorite past time as a “21-ish year old” was playing softball with her sisters, where “the games were known to last until 2 am!”
Early in life, Jill met Russell Weed and were blessed with a son, Mitch and daughter, Brittany. Later in life, Jill met her soulmate, Tom Lang, and blended their families.
Throughout her life, Jill spread her love in so many ways. Early on, Jill ran an in-home daycare in Minnewaukan. For a short time, she worked as a dispatcher at the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center before moving to the Benson County Deputy Clerk of Court. She volunteered as an EMT for the Minnewaukan Ambulance Service and as a coach for elementary girls basketball. She also held a position at the North Dakota Telephone Company for their long distance service. Life led her to be a para-professional for the 1st graders at the Minnewaukan Public School where the kids absolutely adored her. This was one of the most rewarding adventures Jill had. Despite her love of all the children, her path directed her back to the Clerk of Courts office where she was recently elected to her dream job of Clerk of Court of Benson County. Her dedication to serving others was indisputable and limitless.
Kindness and compassion for others was always her priority. She was always the peacekeeper in any situation. Her greatest passion in life was children: her own, her grandchildren, the school kids, the neighborhood kids, and the kids that she took in as her own. Jill always made sure that everyone knew that they could come to the house at any time. Her heart was pure and she was a friend to everyone. Jill and Tom even ran their own “Meals on Wheels” for all the local people during their time of need or during the holiday seasons.
One of Jill’s proudest moments was being able to hold her first great grandchild, Sylis Weed, when he was two weeks old.
Her love of life was evident in the way she lived. Just sitting on the porch in the summer turned into a fun time with family, friends, and of course her amazing pickles. The block will be different now without seeing her out watering her garden and plants or filling her canning jars. She always made sure that Hallmark movies, home improvement shows, the Game Show Network, or football was on the tv.
Her determination to fight until the end did not go unnoticed. She was an inspiration to those around her. Like a pebble cast upon the water, the ripples her beautiful life created will extend far, far beyond herself.
Jill will be greatly missed by her loving family: her soulmate, Tom; her children Mitch Weed, Brittany (Travis) Kraft, Steven (Becky) Lang, Kimberly (Nathan) Zentz, Korissa (Justin) Bergrud; her grandchildren Cade (Ekira), Lux, Kamry, Kolt, Amanda (Randall), Jaeslei, Kaylee, Caber, Mason, Cannon, and her great grandson: Sylis; her sister Nancy (John) Thompson; her nephew Brant Hanson; and her many dear relatives and friends.
Jill was met in Heaven by her parents Oscar Jr. and Deanna (Olson) Hanson, brother Tom Hanson, sister Cheri Hanson, grandparents Oscar Sr. and Edith Hanson, Holger and Ida Olson.
There was a gathering of family and friends on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake ND. A Celebration of Jill’s life was held on Saturday, Nov. 26, at Trinity Free Lutheran Church in Minnewaukan, ND. The burial in St. Peter’s Cemetery, rural Minnewaukan will be held in the spring.
In lieu of flower, memorials are preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley. Hospice of the Red River Valley’s address is 1701 38th St South Suite 101 Fargo, ND, 58103. To help with thank you’s, please provide a return address.
