Janice Kay (Peterson) Hasson

May 3, 1935 – November 16, 2024

89 years old

Janice Kay (Peterson) Hasson passed away peacefully on October 24, 2024, at the Palmcrest Grand Assisted Living residence in Long Beach, California.  Janice will remembered fondly by her friends in an informal gathering at Palmcrest and a graveside service for family and friends will be held July 3, 2025 at Vergas City Cemetery, Vergas, MN.

Janice was born on May 3, 1935, the seventh of nine children born to Herman and Blanche Peterson in Fargo, North Dakota.  Her family moved for work to Gresham, Oregon, when she was in grade school, then the family moved to Vergas, Minnesota.  Janice and her family were members of St. John’s Lutheran Church.  Janice was a student in the Frazee School District of Minnesota.

In her mid-20s, she moved to Los Angeles, California.  She loved coastal weather and quickly found work in the banking industry, where she remained her entire career.

Janice was a beloved aunt with a wonderful sense of humor and a sense of adventure.  She loved travel and learning about her family heritage, connecting with relatives in Denmark and Sweden and making personal visits to some of those relatives.

Janice married Al Hasson in 1976 and they were together until his passing in 1990.  A few years went by, then she met a wonderful companion – her sweetheart of more than 30 years - the late Clifton Wilson.  Their relationship was very special with the two of them living just a few houses apart, taking vacations together, and enjoying the sites around the United States while taking to the roads to see family.

Janice might be called a “superfan” of See’s Candies and would always present their chocolates as a gift to family when she traveled.  She loved taking California visitors to Knott’s Berry Farm.  She was an avid fan of the California Angels baseball team and loved NASCAR races.  When her friends and family had a special interest in a topic or a collection, Janice would always remember them and have a new knick-knack or newspaper clipping to add to their collection.  She served as president of her local American Legion Auxiliary and participated in other philanthropic organizations, as well.

Family and friends were dear to her and she frequently planned her Minnesota trips to coincide with high school reunions with the Frazee High School Class of 1953.  After her retirement, she gathered with former co-workers at Super Mex, one of her favorite spots for fellowship with her many friends.

Janice is survived by siblings Gloria Higdem of Mesa, AZ, and Allen “Pete” Peterson of Vergas, MN; 15 nieces and nephews; and nearly 100 grand- and great-grandnieces and nephews; members of Cliff’s family; and her school chums from Frazee High School.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her special companion, Cliff; husband, Al; her siblings (and  their spouses) Joyce & John Kromer, Earl & Laura Peterson, Leonard Peterson, Donna & Ray Bruhn, and Shirley & Walter Sandau, Bev Peterson (Paul Tubbs), sister-in-law Jill Peterson and brothers-in-law Lyndon Higdem; nephews John “Jack” Kromer, Jack Kromer, James Kromer, Patricia (Sandau) Beckler, Charlene (Sandau) Engel, Janis (Sandau) Golkowski, Randy Bruhn, David Bruhn, and Ryan Peterson; and grandnephew, Craig.