Susan Amy Hanaford

   Susan Amy Hanaford “Sue”, age 81 of Monticello, passed away on Monday, August 12, 2019.

   She was born on October 12, 1937 to Roscoe and Alice Hanaford. She grew up on the ancestral family farm and attended country school for eight years.  Susan graduated from Monticello High School in 1955 and then from St. Paul Bible College (now Crown College) in 1960 with a degree in Christian Education.

   In 1960, she moved to New York City to work at the Christian and Missionary Alliance headquarters as assistant, and ghost writer, to the National Christian Education Director. After Leaving New York in 1964, she returned to Minnesota to join the St. Paul Bible College as secretary to the Dean of Students and headed the Christian Service Department. During this time, she enjoyed traveling with music groups while representing the college and spent a summer working in Bermuda. Later in 1971, Susan took on a new role with Meadow Creek Baptist Church in Anoka. She worked as a secretary and oversaw the Christian Education Ministries. For three years she took students on mission trips to Appalachia, West Virginia.

   Beginning in 1978, Susan became involved with Gospel Light Publications out of Ventura, California as a consultant for churches who needed help with their Christian Ed curriculum. One of the highlights of her ministry here was traveling with their training program. From 1977-1991, Susan worked as a Children’s Director/Pastor at Grace Church in Edina. She led the programs from birth to sixth grade and developed a volunteer team that helped with the ministry. They went on many retreats and seminars. She also helped develop day camps, field trips, and preschool programs. After leaving Grace Church, she worked at First Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton, California, from 1991-2010. As the Children’s Director there, she guided a staff of eight women who oversaw up to 1,000 children.

   While residing in California, Susan served with the Greater LA Sunday School Convention and was on the board for the Fullerton Release Time Program, which provided Bible training for elementary children. In 2015, she returned to her roots and moved back to Monticello.

   Susan was loved and will be greatly missed by her many cousins and friends.

   Funeral services will be at 11:00am on Friday, August 23, 2019 at Riverside Church, 20314 County Road 14 in Big Lake. Visitations will be Thursday, August 22 from 4:00-7:00pm at church and one hour prior to service. Interment at Riverside Cemetery in Monticello.

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