Hanci Tollefson, 91, of Denton, Texas passed away at home in April 2024.
Hanci Aline Nelson was born to Grant and Marguerite Nelson in August 1932 in Sioux City,
Iowa. Raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, she graduated from Washington High School in
1950. She then attended South Dakota State University in Brookings. Hanci married Roger
Tollefson in Sioux Falls in August 1954 and traveled with him to his U.S. Air Force postings in
Arizona and Louisiana before settling in Dallas, Texas. Together they raised two children. In
1969, they moved to Shady Shores in Denton County.
Hanci was a committed volunteer before and after retiring from the Denton County Agricultural
Extension Service. She was a brownie troop leader, a 4-H Club teacher of sewing and needle
crafts, a volunteer for the Newcomers Club in Denton, a member of the Fire Fighters Friends of
Shady Shores, a Master Gardener, a volunteer in the craft shop at the Senior Center, an
ombudsman for the state working for nursing home residents, and a school nurse.
She loved playing cards and was a member of more than one bridge club. She taught and
participated in many crafts including quilting, knitting, crocheting, macrame, needle point and
was a member of the button club.
Hanci is survived by her children Jill Tollefson of Dallas, and Jack Tollefson and wife Robin of
Lafayette, Louisiana, by her grandson John Tollefson and wife Jessica of Anna, Texas, by her
great grand children Emma and Jaiden, and by her three nephews in Minnesota. She is
preceded in death by her parents and brother, James Gremmels.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the DeBerry Funeral
Home in Denton. Burial will be in Sioux Falls, South Dakota later.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Denton Animal Support Foundation,
P.O. Box 486, Denton, Texas 76202, https://dentonasf.network .