PETER L. HANSON

Peter L. Hanson of Devils Lake formerly of the Berwick/Towner, ND area passed away on Monday morning, June 11, 2012 at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake, ND. Peter was 72 years of age. Mass of Christian Burial for Peter will be held on Friday, June 15, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. Jason Asselin will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. The Final Alarm service will be provided by the Devils Lake Rural Volunteer Fire Department. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. The Knights of Columbus will lead the Rosary. Peter Leroy Hanson, son of Carl and Agnes (Thomas) Hanson was born on January 4, 1940 at Rugby, ND. He was raised in the Berwick/Towner area and attended Towner Public School. Pete worked at home and for an area farmer. Pete was united in marriage to Marvadean “Bonnie” Geisinger on May 15, 1957 at Towner. They established their home in Devils Lake where they lived, worked and raised their family. Pete began his career as a mechanic at H.E McHughs and later worked for Frank Senger at Phillips 66 which later became Highway 2 Service. He of course had a special talent in mechanics but attended many classes and training programs through the years to keep up with the many changes. In 1968, in partnership with Clayton Overbo, Pete and Clayton were the owners and operators of Highway 2 Service until retiring in 2008. Retirement was not for Peter, so for 3 ½ years, he delivered bulk mail to area post offices in Ramsey County, north of Devils Lake. At the time of his death, Pete was working in the service department at Lake Chevrolet. Pete was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Lake Region Pool League where he was an award winning billiard player, but to Pete, playing the game with his sons was most important. Pete was a member of the Devils Lake Rural Fire Department and served as the Fire Chief from 1978 to 1992. Pete was inducted into the Red River Valley Speedway Hall of Fame as a driver in 1996. He was an avid reader, loved pool, working on cars, going to auctions and collecting “Aladdin Lamps”. Pete was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and loved spending time with his grandkids and great grandkids watching them participate in sports. Pete is survived by his wife Bonnie and they had just celebrated 55 years of marriage; his seven children, Keith (Carlye) Hanson of Devils Lake, Brian Hanson of Crary, ND, Kent (Kim) Hanson of Princeton, MN, Brent (special friend JoAn Jacobs) Hanson, Devils Lake, Kevin (Patsy) Hanson of Valley City, ND, Brenda (Ken) Koch of Bismarck, ND and Kurt (Lynnette) Hanson also of Devils Lake; sixteen grandchildren, Chad Hanson, Charlene (Travis) Schwab, Aaron, Amanda, Dillon and Sara Hanson, Lee, Mike and Derek Hanson, Aubrie, Analise and Alana Hanson, Russell Koch, Brandon and Bethany Hanson and Jeff Hanson; three step grandchildren, Alex, Brandon and Courtney Boppre; five great grandchildren, Callaway, Carter, Camden and Caleb Schwab and LaMonte Hanson; brother, Ronald (Wendy) Hanson of Minneapolis, MN and sister, Audrey (Jack) Morrison of Granville, ND and many nieces and nephews. Pete was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Fred Hanson and sister, Patricia Dahlen. Serving as Urn Bearers will be Pete’s grandsons Chad, Dillon, Lee, Mike, Derek, Russell and Brandon. Honorary Bearers will be all members of the Devils Lake Rural Fire Department. Reading the Scriptures will be Brandon Hanson and Chad Hanson and the Gift Bearers will be Aubrie, Analise and Alana Hanson.