Thief River Falls – Bio Earl L. Hanson, 96, of Thief River Falls, MN, passed away on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at Thief River Care Center, Thief River Falls.
Visitation will be held on Sunday 5 – 8 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:00 p.m. at the Evangelical Free Church in Thief River Falls and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.
Earl Leonard Hanson was born on December 15, 1926 at home in New Maine Township, the son of the late Hartvig and Tena (Anderson) Hanson. Earl attended school at Goodwill Grade School for 8 years. He could not go to high school on account of having to work on the farm.
Earl was converted at a Dalzell meeting in 1943. He was united in marriage to Janice Marlene Fluke on October 1, 1955. They left for L.A. California, where Earl worked as a machinist for Douglas Aircraft and in 1959 formed his own business as “Swede’s Machining” in 1963. He was CEO of Delco Machining.
In 1965 Earl bought a farm in Holt Township and farmed for 40 years. He retired in 2005 and moved into Thief River Falls.
Earl was on the Holt Township board for many years and was chairman when the township had a big 100th anniversary celebration. He enjoyed playing his guitar and singing, bowling and golf, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting and watching the Twins and Vikings. He was baptized by Thorwald Myher by “Sprinkling” and in 1958 was baptized by immersion at the Baptist Church in Gardena, California.
He was in Army Signal Corps, based in Munich, Germany as a supply clerk, guarding German POW’s that worked there from April, 1945 to November, 1946.
Earl took machinist training in Centenelle High School and North American Aircraft and Northrup Aircraft in Hawthorn, California.
He played guitar and sang with different groups such as with 16 singing men, even sang at Disney Land. He also played and sang with the King’s Men many years, Edsel Lindquist group, Newfolden String Band, Trochman and Friends, Duets and trios with Beulah, Jan, Clara, street meetings with Pastor Vick. He was a member of the Evangelical Free Church in Thief River Falls.
Earl is survived by his loving wife of 67 years Janice; son Randy of Billings, Montana, daughter Laurie (Dale) Miller of Zellwood, FL; grandsons Justin (Ally) Miller of Dover, NH and Micah (Angel) Miller of Selah, Washington; great-granddaughter Maeve Miller of Selah, Washington; siblings Floyd (DeEtta) Hanson of Newfolden, Alfred (Dorothy) Hanson of Denver, Colorado and Clara (Burlin) Jacobson of Cottage Grove, along with several nieces and nephews.
Earl is preceded in death by his parents Hartvig and Tena Hanson; brothers Clarence Hanson, Carl Hanson, John Hanson, Arnie Hanson, Ernie Hanson, Bennie Hanson; sisters Della Hanson and Beulah Bjornrud.
Funeral service for Earl will be held 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 8, 2023 at the Evangelical Free Church in Thief River Falls with Pastor Kevin MacLean officiating. Military Honors will be held at the Evangelical Free Church immediately following the service at the church. Burial will be held at Oak Grove Cemetery at Newfolden.
Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com
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