Larry Gene Hanson, 87 years young of South Heart, North Dakota, passed away on December 16, 2023, at 4:45 a.m. after a brief illness with family by his side. A Celebration of Life Service for Larry will be at 11 A.M., Thursday, December 21, 2023 at Belfield Lutheran Church, Belfield, with Rev. Dawn Busch officiating. Military Honors will be provided by the Belfield American Legion William C. Blair Post 144. Inurnment will follow at Belfield Lutheran Cemetery, Belfield.
Larry was born on September 29, 1936, in Williston, North Dakota to Melvin G. Hanson and Gladys I. Hanson (Sundet). In 1954, Larry graduated from Williston High School and upon graduation, he worked for various employers and continued to work on the family farm until October of 1961when he joined the North Dakota National Guard through October 1964 and was honorably discharged. After his honorable discharge Larry returned to work on the family farm and was hired by KOCH Oil where he began his 30 plus year career in the oil field industry. He continued to progress in his field and retired as a Safety Superintendent from KOCH Oil in 1994. After his retirement with KOCH Oil, he moved back to North Dakota where he worked for Ferrellgas.
During his retirement, Larry continued to learn about historical events, the oil industry and farming and loved to drive to visit family and friends in North Dakota, Colorado, Texas, and Oklahoma.
In 1960, Larry met Shirley Ann Olson in Williston, North Dakota and married in May of 1961 in Ray, North Dakota. Larry and Shirley raised two children, Darren L. Hanson of Dickinson, North Dakota and Rita K. Hanson of Greensboro, North Carolina.
Larry was predeceased in death by Shirley Hanson (Olson) his wife of 53 years; his grandfather, Edwin Sundet; his grandmother, Gustava Sundet; his father, Melvin Hanson; his mother, Gladys Hanson (Sundet); his sister, Harriet Sundet; and his nephew-in-law, Keith Solberg.
Larry is survived by his son, Darren Hanson; his daughter, Rita Hanson; his grandsons, Daniel (Danny) C. Bohl and Connor (Con) J. Bohl, both from South Heart, North Dakota; his granddaughter, Morgan (Mo) McCord and great granddaughter McKinley (PB -Pumpkin Baby) McCord, both from San Antonio, Texas. In addition, his brother, Glen Hanson and his sister-n-law, Shirley Hanson (Stover) of Kersey, Colorado; his God-Daughter, Sherry Solberg of Sturgis, South Dakota; his sister-in-law, Bonnie Wolfgram (Olson) of Dickinson, North Dakota; his nieces, Shelly Burton (Hanson) and her spouse, Caleb Burton of Deer Lodge, Montana, Shelly Haugtvedt (Wolfgram) and her spouse, Allen Haugtvedt, Shelia Ceronkey (Wolfgram) and her spouse Jody Ceronkey, of Sturgis, South Dakota, Rebecca Dahl and Michelle Dahl of Fargo, North Dakota; nephews, Jarrod Hanson and his wife, Amy Hanson (O’Connor), of Denver, Colorado, Ricky Wolfgram and Randy Wolfgram of Belfield, North Dakota, Dale Dahl, of Fargo, North Dakota; his great-nieces, Shanea Gawryluk (Haugtvedt) and spouse Terin Gawryluk of Belfield, North Dakota, Presley Schneider, of Sturgis, South Dakota; his great-nephews, Bradley Solberg, Shannon Haugtvedt, Chandler Schneider, Austin Wolfgram, and Maverick Gawryluk of Belfield, North Dakota.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests on Larry’s behalf donations be made to The Senior Citizens Organization of South Heart, North Dakota where he was President for 15 years and/or to Belfield Lutheran Church where he was a member for 27 years.
