Cover photo for Willis Hanson's Obituary
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1925 Willis 2015

Willis Hanson

January 11, 1925 — December 4, 2015

Willis "Bill" Hanson, 90 of rural Battle Lake died Friday, December 4, 2015, at the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Center.

Willis John Hanson was born on January 11, 1925, in Kamrar, Iowa the son of Henry John and Tillie (Klaver) Hanson. He was baptized and confirmed in the First English Lutheran Church and graduated from the Webster City High School in 1943, both in Webster City, Iowa. In October of 1942, he entered the Iowa National Guard, on June 24, 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Army serving with the Field Artillery Battalion during World War II.

Bill married Martha "Mickey" Neese on December 24, 1944, at the First English Lutheran Church in Webster City, Iowa. They lived in Webster City, where he worked in his Dad's DX Service Station. They moved to rural Battle Lake and built a new home in Everts Township, where they lived ten years. Then they moved to the farm in Amor Township, where they lived for ten years. In 1974, they moved to Milton, ND, and then to Kettle Falls, WA, before returning to Minnesota, living in Battle Lake and in 1994, they moved to their present home on Deer Lake. Bill worked in construction, as a project manager for many years with Morris Knutson Company out of Boise, Idaho, working all over the United States. He enjoyed woodworking, curling, fishing, hunting, bowling, dogs and horses, and had raised sixteen registered quarter horses. Bill volunteered for the Battle Lake Food Shelf, was a member of the Battle Lake Senior Center and the Battle Lake Lions Club, and for two years was a caretaker for Faith Haven Youth Lodge where he assisted on many building projects. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church of Amor, where he had taught Sunday School and served on the church board and helped build additions on the church.

He is survived by his wife of seventy-one years, Mickey; son, Joel Hanson of Battle Lake; daughter-in-law, Helen Hanson of Colorado Springs, CO; seven grandchildren, Jenna Hanson, Kala (Dave) Mills, Rebecca (Erick) Romaro, Randy (Sophia) Hanson, Anita (Joe)Lucero, Todd (Natalie) Hanson and Canndi (Bryan) Vieths; many great-grandchildren; and by numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Tillie Hanson; two sons, Ricky and Jim Hanson; three brothers, George, Harold and Lloyd Hanson; sister, Karen Olson; and three sisters-in-law, Jean, Erma and VaLara Hanson.

Funeral Service: 1:30 pm, Thursday, December 10, 2015, at Zion Lutheran Church of Amor, rural Battle Lake

Visitation: Wednesday from 4 to 7 pm at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Battle Lake and one hour prior to the service.

Clergy: Rev. James Gronbeck

Military Honors: Minnesota National Guard

Interment: Amor Cemetery

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson of Battle Lake

condolences.glendenilson.com

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