Joan M. Reynolds Davenport

Joan Marie (Hanson) Reynolds Davenport, 88, a resident of Battle Lake, died Tuesday, September 26, 2017, at Lake Region Healthcare, Fergus Falls.

Joan was born to Peter and Mabel (Hagen) Hanson on May 22, 1929, in Holt, Minnesota. The family moved to Roseau, Badger, and Pelican Rapids, where she graduated from high school in 1947.

On June 13, 1948, Joan married Melvin Reynolds in Pelican Rapids. Joan and Mel started their careers as administrators with the Good Samaritan Society in Ravenna, Nebraska. Years later, Joan and Sister Mary Lambert Skalsky partnered as consultants and provided staff training for Good Samaritan facilities throughout the United States.

Joan and Mel purchased property on the original Reynolds Homestead on Deer Lake, where they built their retirement home. This tranquil home on the lake was central to many family gatherings and special celebrations.

Faith and love for family was most important to Joan and she lived such a full life. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and Gloria De Cristo Lutheran Church in Yuma, Arizona. Joan enjoyed traveling throughout Europe, wintering in Yuma, and hosting the annual Hanson family reunion. She loved playing cards with family and friends and always had a good book by her side. Joan spent so much time in her kitchen cooking, canning and baking for her family. Favorites included the-best-caramel-rolls-ever, pan fish, refrigerator pickles, cookies and traditional Norwegian sweets. Joan loved being with her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews who brought so much joy into her life.

Preceding her in death were husbands Melvin Reynolds (married 42 years), Euguene Davenport (married 5 years) and Mike Carney; parents, Peter and Mabel Hanson; brothers, Omar Hanson and Pierce (“Bud”) Hanson; sisters, Minerva Wunderlich, Harriet Anderson and Madelyn Smouse; and her special oldest grandson, Matthew Reynolds.

Joan is survived by her three children, Jeff (Del) Reynolds of Battle Lake, Paul Reynolds of Battle Lake, Mary (Greg) Nagel of Fair Oaks Ranch, TX; brother, David (Bill) Hanson of Minneapolis; eight grandchildren, Jenny (Stacy) Abel, Amy (Brandon) Evavold, Sarah (Joe) Dinkins, Andrew (Katie) Nagel, Tom (Abby) Reynolds, Becca (Reagan) Lindsey, Wendy (Tim) Bussinger, and Jennifer Ford; thirteen great-grandchildren, Brianna, Alayna, Drew and Dylan Evavold, Benjamin and Adeline Dinkins, Emmery and Grayson Nagel, Carter and Braylee Jo Lindsey, Baby Lindsey (arriving April 2018), and Tyler, Travis and Trevor Paulson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Lake Region Healthcare Cancer Care & Research Center in Fergus Falls.

Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the funeral home
Service: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 30, 2017, at Olson Funeral Home Chapel, Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Mark Johnson
Interment: Skibtvedt Cemetery, rural Battle Lake
Arrangements are provided by the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls
Online condolences may be sent to www.OlsonFuneralHome.com