Robert Hanson

Robert Hanson died on Friday, February 3, 2023 at Johnson Memorial Care Center in Dawson, MN at the age of 93 years young.

Funeral services will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson, MN on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 10:30 am with Rev. Kendall Stelter officiating.  Burial will be in the Springfield, MN Cemetery.

Visitation with the family will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2023 from 9:30 to 10:30 am at Grace Lutheran Church.

Robert Willard Hanson was born July 4, 1929 in Grafton, ND. Bob was the oldest of 6 children of Willard and Nell (Steck) Hanson. Willard was a superintendent of schools and moved his family to many towns while Bob was growing up. Bob started his school days in Grafton, lived in Wyndmere, ND where he attended 2-8th grades, and finished out high school in Waubun, MN, where he participated in student council, band, football, basketball, and track. Bob graduated from Waubun High School in 1947.

Bob attended one year of college at the School of Science in Wahpeton, MN before enlisting in the Army in 1948 for 4 years. He served in Japan for 2 years and was transferred to Korea when the war started in 1950. In 1952, he was honorably discharged and returned to North Dakota where he earned his Bachelor of Education Degree in 1955 from the University of North Dakota, in Grand Forks. While attending UND, he met and married Donna Lucille Northridge in 1955. They moved to Thief River Falls, MN where Bob taught industrial arts and history for 1 year. Bob and Donna had their son Craig in 1956 while in Thief River Falls. Bob returned to UND and got his Master’s Degree in Education Administration in 1957. After graduation, Bob, Donna, and Craig moved to Ashley, ND where Bob taught history for 2 years. Bob accepted a position as principal in Goodhue, MN in 1959. Bob and Donna had son Bradley in 1959 and daughter Kersti in 1961 while living in Goodhue. In 1962, Bob became superintendent of schools in Cleveland, MN. They lived in Cleveland for 3 years, moved to Mapleton, MN for 4 years, and made their final move to Slayton, MN in 1969, where Bob served as superintendent for 13 years. While in Slayton, Bob was active in the Presbyterian Church and Kiwanis, enjoyed attending his children’s school concerts and sporting events, and frequently took his family boating and picnicking at Lake Shetek State Park.

Bob and Donna divorced in 1978. In 1980, Bob met and married Darlene Herzog from Ivanhoe, MN, and gained 5 amazing children: Vicki, David, Chuck, Kevin and Denice. They lived in Slayton, MN for a couple more years with Darlene’s youngest daughter, Denice. After Bob retired from the school system in 1982, he and Darlene left Slayton to travel for 2 years before settling in Santa Barbara, CA in 1984. They spent 20 years living an amazing, relaxing life managing an apartment complex and traveling the world spending time with children and grandchildren from their blended family. In 2004, they moved to Sun City West, AZ where they became snowbirds, spending winters in Arizona and summers in Bloomington, MN. In 2018, Bob and Darlene made the permanent move back to Dawson, MN. Bob enjoyed having coffee with Darlene at local coffee shops in the mornings, drinking his Mountain Dew in the afternoons, reading about history, and watching sports on TV.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife Darlene, first wife Donna, son Craig, sister Helen Louise, brother Richard, brother-in-law Richard King, and nephews Ted and Marc. Bob is survived, siblings: Margaret King, Kathie (Kathy) Hanson and Russell (Joyce) Hanson, children: Brad (Lisa) Hanson and Kersti (Robert) Canon, daughter-in-law Kim, step children: Vicki (Kurt) Oellien, David (Liz) Herzog, Chuck (Mel) Herzog, Kevin (Petra) Herzog, and Denice (Tim) Wagley, 29 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.

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