Anela Irene Gudmunson Hanson Nelson was born in Valley City, N.D., on Oct. 7, 1925, to Norwegian immigrant Andrew Gudmunson and Norwegian-American Evelyn Garnes.
Her father died in 1927. Shortly thereafter, Evelyn moved to Skagit County with Anela to be near Andrews relatives. Anela spent a lot of time with her aunt and uncle, John and Marie (Gudmunson) Hanson and was legally adopted by them at the age of seven. Anelas name was then changed to Anela Gudmunson Hanson. Anela remained in contact with her natural mother, Evelyn and younger sisters and brothers born during Evelyns later marriages.
Anela attended first grade at Dewey in Skagit County. She transferred to Burlington for her later grade school years. In approximately 1938, the Hansons moved to East Stanwood, where they operated Hansons Cafe and lived in the apartment above. Anela graduated from Lincoln High School in East Stanwood in 1942. The following fall Anela moved to Seattle to attend business school. During the late 1940s, the Hansons changed businesses and started Hansons Variety in East Stanwood.
While in Seattle, Wash., Anela met Eugene Gene Clements Nelson whom she married in 1944. Anela did secretarial work for a couple of years in Seattle. Gene and Anela moved to East Stanwood in 1946 to be near her family and to begin their own family. Gene worked at various places in the Stanwood area while Anela was a housewife raising two daughters, Eileen Barbara and Marcia Marie. Gene and Anela built a house on brick hill above East Stanwood, just one block from her parents house. In 1966 Gene and Anela built a house on Camano Island and moved to Utsalady Bay where they lived for 22 years.
In 1956 Gene and Anela took over her parents variety store and renamed it Nelsons Variety. They ran the store together until 1972, when Anela retired and Gene became semi-retired. In 1990, Gene and Anela moved to Camaloch on Camano Island. After Gene died in 2004, Anela continued to live in Camaloch until her death.
Whatever Anela undertook to accomplish, she did it well. She was an excellent seamstress and accomplished cook. After retirement, she took up watercolor painting. She especially enjoyed painting with the Roving Artists who meet to paint outdoor scenes during the summer months. She enjoyed reading books and learning new things. She was a founding member of a bridge group that has met continuously for over 50 years. She was known for her good mind and was doing crossword puzzles in the hospital as recently as 48 hours before she died.
Anela was predeceased by her natural parents, Andrew and Evelyn Gudmunson; her adoptive parents, John and Marie Hanson; her husband, Gene; and her sister, Lorraine McCormick.
She is survived by daughters, Eileen (Tom) King and Marcia Nelson; granddaughters, Shelley Scott, Danielle Azdamou and Raquel Hopkins; great-granddaughters, Brianna Metcalf and Sasha Hopkins; sister, Leona Christenson; brothers, Richard Oldow and Arthur Oldow; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held at 1 p.m., Thursday, May 24, at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Stanwood, followed by a reception in the church social hall.
Remembrances may be made to a favorite charity or Our Saviours Lutheran Church where Anela was confirmed and has long been an active member.
Services are under the direction of Gilbertson Funeral, Stanwood.