Lillian Sophia (Bahnub) Hart, 97, of Black River Falls, died Tuesday, July 8th, 2025, at home under the care of St. Croix Hospice.
The third daughter to John and Eva (Nelson) Bahnub was born December 14th, 1927, in the Caledonia Memorial Hospital, Caledonia, Minnesota.
She was baptized January 28th, 1928, in her grandparents’ parlor in Houston, Minnesota. Her family moved to Jackson County in the Pine Grove area, where she attended grade school at Pine Grove School and, always, the Little Norway Church nearby.
Lillian graduated from the Black River Falls High School in 1947, after staying home for two years following eighth grade to work on the farm – milking cows, doing chores, and working the fields with horses. She treasured her classmates, regularly enjoying lunch together and attending the BRFHS’ annual Alumni Association’s Banquet each year. After high school, she worked at the Waarvik Drug Store and Taylor and Jones Department Store.
On May 22nd, 1949, she married Willard E. Hart at Little Norway Lutheran Church and they farmed their entire lives in the Township of Irving.
In 1960, she was hired as a Secretary at the Jackson County Courthouse University of Wisconsin – Extension Office and retired after 30 years. Her Lead Secretary duties included supporting the county’s Agricultural Agents – Eugene Savage and David Holcomb; Home Economists – Lois Spualding, Nyla Musser, and Luane Meyer; and nine 4-H Agents as well as creating and producing newsletters for various groups such as the JC Holstein Breeders, JC Beekeepers, and JC DHIA – Dairy Herd Improvement Associations.
In 1969, she recalled when the Extension Office typed, ran off, and put together 900 copies of the Fair Premium Book. This was the year the book was selected second overall in the state for “Best Fair Premium Book.”
The current longest serving member, she was a 75 year member of Jackson County’s HCE (Home and Community Education), a number of its clubs including Trout Run, Irving In-Betweens, Country Girls, and currently the Town and Country HCE Club. In 1991 and 2011, the JC Extension Homemakers (now HCE) awarded her their Community Leadership Award.
During an August 1964 June Dairy Month Recipe Contest, featured on a WEAU-TV 13 Television Bake-Off, Lil – accompanied by Nyla Musser – represented Jackson County with her “Heart’s Dairy Salad Tray,” Creamy Pink Dressing and a Cantaloupe Crown.
Lillian served as Co-President of the 4-H Leaders Association – working on many of its committees, even attending the 4-H Leaders Forum in Washington D.C with Willard. She was a General Leader of the Irving Sticktights 4-H Club, which was invited to perform their original “Black River Anthology” play at the State Gathering in Madison. She was a 1983 recipient of the 4-H Alumni Award.
She was named the Black River Falls School District’s “Volunteer of the Year,” in 1993, for volunteering as a special aide in her niece, Sherry Erickson’s, Talented and Gifted classrooms at Gebhardt and Third Street Schools.
In 1993, Lil was hired as the Program Assistant for Jackson County Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers for 10 years, alongside Program Director and friend Karen Foust. She started in April of ‘93, always recalling the Father’s Day Flood of ‘93 when she didn’t think the office door went shut for a week. People were coming inquiring about supplies and necessities. The drug store was empty, people started donating, and flood victims came to the office to choose what they wanted.
Lillian was involved with the Jackson County Agricultural Society (Fair Board), serving a total of nearly twenty years as its Secretary-Treasurer and on the Miss Jackson County Committee. The Fair Board dedicated its 2003 Fair Book in her honor.
In retiring from her duties on the Fair Board in 2001, she exhibited in the Antiques Department at the Jackson County Fair – right up to last year – where she enjoyed the people and won many ribbons, including a Best of Show and Outstanding for her Ho-Chunk woven basket given to her by sister Joanna.
Lillian was a Charter Member of Jackson County’s Women in History Program, served on the Commission for Aging Board (SALT – Seniors and Lawmen Together), and was honored with the Jackson County Women in History Award in 1998.
President of the Jackson County Senior Center for a time, the highlight of her week was playing cards every Thursday – at the Center or, later, at The Hub – until the COVID pandemic.
One beloved tradition was her membership in the Fabulous Five Birthday Club, which included friends Mary Hansen, Karen Foust, Blanche Thoreson, Cindy Gilbertson, Kay Elliott, Lucy Anderson, and Charlotte Overlien. Lil’s last attendance in this premier club was July 3rd, 2025, to celebrate Blanche’s birthday.
The oldest living member of Little Norway (LN); Lillian faithfully attended worship, taught Sunday School, served ten years as Sunday School Superintendent, was Secretary of the Church Council for ten years, the General Chairman of the 1974 committee and program celebrating 118 years of grace at LN, was a member of LN’s WELCA – serving as President, the Rebecca Circle, and sang many years in the church choir.
Lillian’s faith was among the strongest. She prayed and reflected on God’s Word by participating in numerous Bible studies, memorizing many verses of scripture, praying – often aloud, wherever she was to give thanks for the meal she was about to receive, and through daily devotions. Thanks to her dear friend and neighbor, Mary Hansen (most recently Katie Bahnub and StacyMae), devotions continued each morning over the phone due to Lil’s vision challenges. Over the course of 2024, Mary and her read the entire Bible together.
She rarely missed a chance to have lunch ready at noon; share a cup of coffee, cookies, and conversation; play cards; go dancing; go for a walk with Mary, Jackie, Janet, or by herself; watch “Jeopardy” and the news; or listen to WWIS Radio, especially to Tony Saturday mornings for “The BuyLine.”
Lillian had a deep love for her husband, Willard, celebrating 68 years of marriage before his death in 2017; for her son and daughter-in-law – Eugene and Jackie Zahrte, Black River Falls; two grandchildren – Tony Hart, West Salem, and StacyMae Harmon Hart (Brandon Quillman), Black River Falls; three great-grandchildren Oliver Smith and Bryson and Rylan Quillman; special nephew Scott (Gloria) Bahnub; brother Claire (Lois) Bahnub; sister-in-law Katie Bahnub; her twelve god-children, nieces, and nephews; faithful and dependable hired man Jeff Johnson, honorary granddaughter Betzy (Tom) Messelt, and honorary great-granddaughter Holly Messelt.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John (1961) and Eva (1974) Bahnub; sisters, Eva Jean Hart (1990), Lucille Summerwell (2018), Joanna Hollier (2020); and brothers, William “Bill” Bahnub (2007) and John “Jack” Bahnub (2007).
Funeral services will be Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., from Little Norway Lutheran Church, Black River Falls, WI. S.A.M. Allen Johnson will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Family and friends may call Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at The Gathering Room of Little Norway Lutheran Church, and again Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services.
Memorials may be given to Little Norway Lutheran Church or Jackson County Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers.
Lil especially thanks her sisters for all of the trips that she and Willard were able to experience because of their support, especially their 50th Anniversary trip to Hawaii.
“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:24
“Save your fork! The best is yet to come.”