Ann Marie (Sprenger) Hankins was born to Howard and Elizabeth (Bess) Sprenger on Dec. 9, 1940, in Toppenish, Washington. She was an early Christmas present for the Sprenger family!
Ann passed away peacefully at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia on May 17, 2024, at 10:09 p.m., with family at her side.
Ann grew up in Zillah, Washington, out on the family ranch, as it was affectionately called. She had a marvelous childhood raising all kinds of farm animals. She had many stories of her brothers and sister out on the ranch, and always shared the stories with everyone that was close to her. She loved growing up on a farm! She went to school in Zillah from kindergarten to 12th grade. She graduated from Zillah High School in 1959 and often talked fondly about her classmates and friends and all the shenanigans they would get into.
She was previously married and had three beautiful children, Beth (1960), Charleen (1961) and Joe (1963). In 1967, with three very young children in tow, she decided to go to college at Central Washington State College in Ellensburg, and that same year started dating Stanton Hankins. Stan wanted to get married, but Ann told him not until she graduated from school. So, on June 7, 1969, in Ellensburg, Ann graduated with a bachelor's degree in business education and married Stan the same day in Yakima. Much fun was had that day!
In 1970, Ann started teaching at East Valley High School in Moxee, Washington. Ann and Stan purchased a home in Terrace Heights and lived there until Ann's retirement in 1998. She loved teaching; it wasn't just a job for her. She loved the students and the staff, and she enjoyed the clubs that she was an advisor to and all the many functions she attended. She would always talk about the years that her children attended East Valley, as all three of them went there. She always knew what they were up to. She also loved having summers off and going on vacations with family, to the coast to go fishing or Banks Lake or camping in the mountains. She loved the great outdoors!
Ann and Stan were married for almost 55 years and spent a lot of time on the Washington and Oregon coasts. Hanging out on the beach was one of Ann's favorite things to do.
They lived in Newport, Oregon, for five years and then settled in Winlock, Washington, in 2005, where they currently live. They made that their base camp and would travel to see their children and grandchildren, which was Ann's favorite thing to do. Ann and Stan raised several dogs over the years, but their favorites were schnauzers. She loved her kids and grandkids to the moon and back. Ann will be sorely missed by all, especially the family.
For many years, Ann was active in Eastern Star and at her church in Winlock, as Ann had a deeply rooted faith. It is a comfort to know that she was called home, so that she could reunite with all the loved ones that preceded her in death.
Ann is survived by her husband, Stanton Hankins; daughter, Beth (Hankins) Norris; daughter, Charleen (Hankins) Harrellson (Doug); son, Joe Hankins (Jennifer); sister, Mary Joan (Sprenger) Linker; sister-in-law, Marilyn Sanborn; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by four nieces and eight nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Bess Sprenger; parents-in-law, Everett Hankins and Eloise Hankins; two brothers, Fred Sprenger and John Sprenger; one sister-in-law, Carol Sprenger; two brothers-in-law, Harold Linker and Jack Walters; two nephews, Johnny Sprenger and Richard Linker; and many other family members and friends.
A viewing will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at Brookside Funeral Home (500 W. Prospect, Moxee, Washington), with a funeral service at 1 p.m. A graveside service will follow at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com.
