Kurt Hanson

Kurt "Curly" Hanson, 64, Des Lacs, died Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, while elk hunting in White Sulfur Springs, Mont.

Kurt M. Hanson was born on May 2, 1945, the third of nine children of Kenneth O. and Myrtle L. (Ronning) Hanson, in Minot. Kurt lived in the rural Des Lacs area for most of his life. He graduated from Des Lacs High School in 1963. He was a lifelong member of the Rose Valley Lutheran Church in rural Des Lacs, where he formerly served as a board member.

On May 15, 1976, he was united in marriage to Jeanne Olson at Rose Valley Church. They made their home southwest of Des Lacs, where they raised their family and continued to live.

Kurt operated heavy equipment throughout his life and loved every minute of it, often remarking that he couldn't imagine going to work every day at a job he didn't love. Over the years, he worked for Bonebrake Plumbing, Neshem-Peterson, Coteau, Falkirk and Indian Head coal mines and then for Gratech. In 1995, he started Hanson's Excavating Inc. Kurt always said that he would work until he could no longer crawl up into a piece of equipment.

In 2002, he received the Northern Region Trails Contractor of the Year Award from the U. S. Forest Service for his work on the Maah Daah Hey Trail.

He stayed true to his roots to the point where his hobby, working with the cattle, "interfered" with his work. When he wasn't working, Kurt divided his time between traveling to visit his children, grandchildren and hunting whatever game happened to be in season. The Lord took him when he was elk hunting in Montana.

Those who shared in his life: Wife, Jeanne, Des Lacs; children, Justin (Brienna Lee) Hanson, Des Lacs, Melissa (Jesse) Hooker, Lexington, Ky., Shannon (Angie) Hanson, Des Lacs, Rebecca Hanson of Colby, Kan.; grandchildren, Austin, Ashley and Amanda Hanson, Kaden and Sutton Hooker, Brynn Hanson and Olivia Hanson; brothers, Kent (Jill) Hanson, Des Lacs, Klint (Nancy) Hanson, Berthold, Keith (Linda) Hanson, Pasco, Wash., Kelvin (Claudia) Hanson, Fife, Wash.; sisters Marcia (Ernie) Raszler, Ryder, Marcella (Paul) Brandvold, Ryder, Marlene (Don) Weikart, Seattle, Marian (Mark) Spurling, Bonney Lake, Wash.; mother-in-law, Lucille Olson, Minot; brothers-in-law, Bob (Linda) Olson, Bismarck, Darrell (Gail) Olson, Minot; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Kurt was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Myrtle; grandson, Hudson Hooker; father-in-law, Olaf Olson; and nephew, Jim Raszler.

Funeral service: Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009, at 11 a.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, Minot .

Visitation: Today, Nov. 24, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot, and from 6 to 7 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, Minot.

Prayer service: Today, 7 p.m., at the church.

Burial: Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Rose Valley Cemetery, rural Des Lacs.

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).