William H. Hanson

William Harold (Bill) Hanson, 94, of Moorhead, MN, died peacefully in his home on May 8, 2005, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley. Rather than telling you how he died, let us tell you how he lived.

Bill Hanson was born October 30, 1910, to Carl & Mathilda Hanson on the family farm near Dalton, MN. Bill, the youngest of 13 children, stayed on the farm until his high school years when he moved to St. Paul, MN, to attend the University of Minnesota Agricultural High School. Upon graduation in 1929, he went to work at the Dayton farm in Excelsior, MN. He married Helena Paulina Pape on October 27, 1934 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Excelsior. He later moved to Columbia Heights, MN, where he and his new bride became members of Columbia Heights Lutheran Church.


In 1936, Bill began his employment with Beacher-Cummings in Minneapolis, MN, where he learned to be a Refrigeration Service Engineer. In 1948, he began his career with Refrigeration Supply, then a small fledging wholesaler, selling to the commercial refrigeration trade. He stayed with and was instrumental with the growth of the organization until he retired in 1984. In 1936, he also became a member of RSES (Refrigeration Service Engineering Society), and remained an active member to the present. In 1942, Bill and his wife Helen moved to south Minneapolis and became members of Faith Lutheran Church. Upon becoming a member, he was voted in and served as President of the congregation and also became the choir director.


In 1951, Bill was offered a promotion which included a transfer to Fargo, ND, where he worked at Refrigeration Supply as over-the-road Sales Engineer with the territory of North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Upon arriving in Fargo, Bill & Helen became members of Grace Lutheran Church where Bill served as President of the congregation, financial secretary, elder, and member of the Board of Trustees.


Bill enjoyed good health throughout his life. Besides his passion for church activities, he was an avid hunter, fisherman, golfer, gardener, woodworker and lover of music. He sang in and directed choirs and played the violin and cornet. He also loved hunting pheasants in south central Minnesota and North Dakota while traveling. The rougher the walking terrain, the better. He also loved to play racquetball at Fargo's YMCA, especially when his opponents were 30 years his junior. He and Helen had a lake cabin on Crystal Lake with a monstrous garden that supplied fresh vegetables to all of their friends and neighbors. He even had a sleep-in-the tent camping/fishing trip to Lac Seul, Canada at the age of 88 and a tour of Norway at the age of 90.


Bill married Marlene Tucker on June 30, 1991, at Grace Lutheran Church. Bill, who was retired, helped Marlene with making woodworking projects for art classes at Grace Lutheran School, where she taught. He would patiently saw 30 or more of the same objects for students to sand and paint. He also made grandfather clocks for his wife and his three children along with many wooden Christmas presents for all to enjoy. Bill will be remembered as a devout Christian, respected businessman, loving husband, devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather.


Bill is survived by his wife Marlene; three children, Karen (Bruce) Lien of Moorhead, Roberta Dahnert of Monticello, MN, and Douglas (Marie) Hanson of Arden Hills, MN; 8 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; three stepchildren, Steven (Becky) Malme of Se
Visitation: Wednesday, May 11, 2005, from 6 PM - 8 PM at Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead.


Funeral: Thursday, May 12, 2005, at 2 PM at Grace Lutheran Church,
821 5th Avenue South, Fargo.


Burial: Friday, May 13, 2005, at 1 PM in Sunset Cemetery
Minneapolis.