Lee Hanson 12/03/2013

LeOtis “Lee” Hanson, age 100, died on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at the Lutheran Home in River Falls, Wisconsin.  Lee was born to Hans and Annie Hanson on July 25, 1913 in Hutchinson, Minnesota, where he also grew up. He served two years in the National Guard and then worked for his brother Harry’s construction company in Hutchinson. In 1937, he married Lorraine Anderson of Cosmos, Minnesota. The couple moved to Seattle, Washington for a short time before moving back to Hutchinson, where Lee started his career as wholesale farm machinery salesman. He sold to dealerships throughout the upper Midwest, eventually settling in Madison, Wisconsin in 1960. He retired in 1980. He was a member of Golden Kiwanis and served on the board of Asbury United Methodist Church in Madison.  Lee’s hobbies included reading, politics and current events, good conversation, nature, caring for his home and his family, and hunting, especially pheasant and deer hunting. He also enjoyed quiet walks in the woods, often with a dog. He did volunteer work in retirement, traveled with Lorraine through almost all of the lower 48 states, enjoyed being a grandpa, and was loved by his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Lee was a man of character and faith. He saw honor in hard work and honored work with his life.  He was sociable, outgoing and had a great sense of humor. He had a wonderful curiosity about life and people, loved learning new things, and found hope and courage in all circumstances. During his last years, he expressed a deep gratefulness for his life and often told those around him, “The Lord has been very good to me.”  He was especially thankful for the blessing of his wife of 70 years, whom he affectionately called “my bride”.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Lorraine Hanson; son Larry Hanson; sisters, Hannah, Susan, and Polly; and brothers, Harry and Elvin. Lee is survived by his children, Linda (David) Reynolds, Rod (Debra) Hanson; daughter-in-law, Helene Hanson; grandchildren, Jennifer (David) Loegering, Mark Hanson, Nancy Reynolds, Lori Reynolds, Dan (Amy) Reynolds, Philip Hanson, Curtis Hanson; great-grandchildren, Evan, Sam and Audrey Loegering, and Henry and Luke Reynolds.  A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 14, 2013 at the Grace Lutheran Church, 430 5th Avenue SW, Hutchinson. Visitation was also Saturday from 1-2 p.m. at the church.  Interment was in Oakland Cemetery in Hutchinson.  Memorials may be directed to the Lutheran Home River Falls Campus, 640 N Main Street, River Falls, Wisconsin, 54022. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services of River Falls.