Obituary: Ronald Elton Hanson

Ronald Elton Hanson, 83, of Havre, Montana, died Feb. 10, 2017.  

Ron, son of Clifford and Mildred Hanson, loving husband of Sharlene Faye Hanson, passed away at Northern Montana Hospital in Havre after a battle with leukemia.  

He is survived by his wife, Sharlene; daughter, Jacquie (Neal) Bonser of Spokane, Washington; son, Scott (Jan Marie) Hanson of Havre; and son, Eric (Laurel) Hanson of Missoula, Montana. He is also survived by five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Survivors also include his brother, Clifford (Charlotte) Hanson, sister, Gaye Kehm and sister, Julie (David) Larson.

Ron was born Dec. 21, 1933, in Havre. He grew up in Chester, Montana, where he attended first grade through high school.

During Ron's senior year he saw President Harry Truman, who was in Chester to initiate the Tiber Dam project. After high school, Ron attended Waldorf College in Forrest City, Iowa, before enlisting in the

U.S. Marine Corps. He proudly served from 1952 to 1956. He attended boot camp at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and later was stationed in Japan during the Korean War.

He was honorably discharged in September of 1956 and upon moving back to Chester, he reunited with Sharlene Leighton and the two would marry Dec. 28, 1956. his past December they celebrated 60 wonderful years of marriage.

Ron worked a variety of jobs during his life, and no matter what he was doing, he gave it his all. He always took great pride in everything he did and had an unmatched work ethic. He retired as a compliance officer with the state of Montana-Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services Division. Ron enjoyed driving vehicles for car dealerships and flagging farming equipment in his retirement.

During Ron's variety of careers, he and his family resided in Huron, South Dakota, Moorhead, Minnesota, and Hampton, Iowa, but it was in Havre that he lived the longest. Ron was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Havre for many years. He was also a regular blood donor for the American Red Cross. Since 1993, he donated 104 times and 13 gallons of blood.    

Ron loved visiting Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake and passed on the appreciation for these Montana treasures to his kids. There have been many family reunions in Glacier Park over the years, a place the Hanson's hold dear to their heart.

He will be missed greatly and we cherish all the wonderful memories.

A small family service was held Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at the Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester followed by a reception at Chelli and Marlowe Fossen's - Sharlene's sister - house in Joplin.