Veronica "Penny" Joan Young (Hanson)

life story

A loving wife, mother, grandma, aunt & friend to so many

Veronica “Penny” Joan Young (Hanson), 81, of Apple Valley, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Penny grew up as part of a large, close-knit family that shaped her lifelong devotion to loving, helping, and caring for others. She made her home a central gathering place where everyone was always welcome. She loved to host and send guests home with plenty of food. Penny was the life of the party on any dance floor, with a special place in her heart for a good, old-fashioned polka. She had a passion for garage sales, picking up “good deals” and gifting most of what she’d find to family and friends. Always thoughtful of others, she would never leave a restaurant without gathering all the dishes and cleaning the table to make life easier for the waitstaff. If she saw someone sitting alone at a soccer game, she'd strike up a conversation to make sure they felt included. She was strong-willed and never hesitated to speak up, especially when she felt something wasn't right.

Penny cherished her family. She met the love of her life, Bob, at Brown Photo in North Minneapolis in 1967, and they married soon after to start a family of their own. She would go on to dedicate 36 years to special education in District 196, where her students became extended family. Together, she and Bob raised two sons. Penny showed her boys unconditional love and taught them how to be good human beings, values that would later shape her five grandchildren, whom she deeply adored.

One of Penny's happiest places was watching her grandkids compete, whether on a field, rink, or court, and she was always there to cheer them on. She loved telling them stories about the “old days” and what life was like when she was a kid. Grandma loved to teach the kids how to clean, often assigning chores and bribing them with trips to Subway or Dairy Queen — and just as often filled them up on sweets, baking monkey bread or making pancakes that the grandkids loved for breakfast. Her grandchildren were fortunate to have such a loving grandmother. They now have a guardian angel in heaven who will watch over them and beam with pride as they carry on her legacy.

Penny lived her life always putting other people first, often saying, “There is nothing more important than family.” She will be deeply missed but forever remembered.

Visitation & Memorial Service

A visitation will be held on Saturday, August 15 at 10:00 am, followed by a memorial service at 11:00 am at Shepherd of the Valley in Apple Valley, Minnesota. There will be a luncheon following the service. A livestream of the service will be available at: https://youtube.com/live/NoUcSFbsYqc?feature=share

Penny is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Bob Young; her sons, Mark Young and his wife, Ellie, and Chris Young and his wife, Stacey; her grandchildren, Dylan, Austin, Olivia, Bennett, and Graham; and her siblings, Barbara, Margaret, William, and Peter. She is preceded in death by her parents, Joan and Perly Hanson, and her siblings, Clarence, Robert, Gilbert, Dolores, Lois, Winifred, Evelyn, and Antoinette.

memorial service

Memorial Service

August 15, 2026

Shepherd of The Valley Lutheran Church 12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd, Apple Valley, MN 55124, USA

A visitation will be held on Saturday, August 15 at 10:00 am, followed by a memorial service at 11:00 am, at Shepherd of the Valley in Apple Valley, Minnesota. There will be a luncheon following the service. A livestream of the service will be available at: https://youtube.com/live/NoUcSFbsYqc?feature=share