Sallie Hannawacker

Sallie Ann Hannawacker, daughter of Dr. John and Jeannette (Tiedje) Ferguson, was born March 1, 1956, at Skiff Memorial Hospital in Newton, Iowa. Sallie graduated from Newton Senior High School in 1974.

Sallie attended Central College in Pella, Iowa, and graduated from the University of Denver with a degree in psychology. She became a Registered Nurse at Arapahoe Community College. She met and fell in love with her own Bruce Springsteen, Frank Hannawacker, in 1985. They were married in Newton in 1991 and have spent decades traveling enthusiastically throughout the U.S. and abroad.

They moved to St Cloud, MN in 1990 where Sallie spent 22 years as a trauma nurse in the emergency room at St. Cloud Hospital. She was dedicated to her patients and to her co-workers, who became very important and special friends in her life.

There was no dog that Sallie didn't want to adopt. She was steadfast in her desire to provide every dog a home...usually hers! She and Frank were "dog's best friend" and they adopted many throughout the years. Sallie was literally the baby of the family. Growing up, she took pleasure in going to her cousins' farms to enjoy all the excitement and adventures that were offered to her.

Sallie had her final sleep at her dearly loved family's cabin on Ponto Lake in Minnesota on Saturday, September 8, 2012. Her always loving, daring and constant companion, Frank, was with her. Sallie was preceded in death by her parents.

Those left to honor Sallie's fantastic, fun, selfless, full and enjoyable life include her husband, Frank, of St. Cloud, her siblings: Susan (David) Dunscombe of Cocoa, Florida, Johnna (Pat) Cashill of Reno, Nevada, and Tom Ferguson of Denver, Colorado; her beloved nieces and nephews: Samantha Dunscombe (Bob Soulia) of St. Petersburg, Florida, Mitch (Kim) Dunscombe of Bainbridge Island, Washington, John (Charlotte) Cashill of Seattle, Washington, Kate (Ryan) Blewett of Anchorage, Alaska, Heather (Todd) Sorensen of Lynchburg, VA and Baylen (Celine) Ferguson of South Korea will forever miss "Aunt Sal". Equally loved by Sallie are great nieces and nephews: Ben Dunscombe and Morgan Dunscombe of Bainbridge Island, Mackenzie Cashill of Seattle, Kade Sorensen of Lynchburg, and Lilah Ferguson of South Korea. And of course, Sophie and Buddy her four-legged children.

A celebration of Sallie's beautiful life will be held on October 15th at Riverside Park Pavillion, 1800 Kilian Blvd. SE in St. Cloud, MN from 4-8 PM. If you wish to make a donation in memory of Sallie, please consider giving to the Tri-County Humane Society.

She lived intensely, she loved intensely, and she laughed with an intensity that no one could resist.