Lawrence Melvin Hanson

Lawrence M. Hanson, 90 of Devils Lake, ND formerly of Warwick, ND died on Sunday, March 27, 2005 at his home. Funeral Services for Lawrence will be held on Friday, April 1, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at the Warwick Lutheran Church. Rev. David Nichols will officiate and burial will be in the Warwick Cemetery in the spring. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Friday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral services. Lawrence Melvin Hanson was born on April 15, 1914 in Meeker County, MN, the son of Arnt Magnus and Christine Rosalyn (Rassmusson) Hanson. In 1919 he moved with his family to Hillsdale Township, rural Warwick where he would spend most of his life. He attended country school in Hillsdale Township. He later went to California with his brother, Lloyd and worked on a dairy farm. He returned to North Dakota and worked on his father’s grain and dairy farm. Lawrence would call at square dances where he met the love of his life, Linda Catherine Anderson. They married on November 8, 1942 at Warwick. They would eventually establish their home on the family farm where they lived, farmed, had cattle and other livestock and raised their ten children. Lawrence and Linda semi-retired and moved to Devils Lake in 1980. Lawrence continued to remain very active in farming and with his cattle. Several years later, the cattle were sold and he considered himself to be fully retired. He loved his farm and the cattle and it was very difficult to no longer be a part of that. Linda died on September 2, 1993. Lawrence was active on many local boards, including the Hillsdale Township and Warwick School Boards, the Sheyenne Elevator Board, Farmers Union Shipping Board and also the Sheyenne Farmers Union Board. As a life time member of the Warwick Lutheran Church, he served on the Church Council and was instrumental in the building of the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd in New Rockford. Lawrence was devoted to his family and the farm but when he did take time to enjoy some free time he loved to play pinochle and other card games. He was also on the Farmers Union Oil Company Men’s Bowling League for many years and also bowled in a Mixed League with Linda. Lawrence loved his family, especially “the little ones.” He will be deeply missed by all. Lawrence is survived by his children: Barbara (Roger) Eversvik, Warwick Lester (Colleen) Hanson, Tolna Phyllis (Lee) Christianson, Dickinson Curtis (Zannetta) Hanson, Pettibone Janice (Richard) Thompson, Mayville Christine (Clark) Mannie, Fargo Steven (Donna) Hanson, Hazen Calvin Hanson, Holdridge, Nebraska Linda JoAnn (Gary) Matthews, West Fargo Joyce (Greg) Olson, Fargo Twenty-Eight Grandchildren Seventeen Great Grandchildren Sister: Marcella Smith, Lancaster, California He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Linda; infant son, Rodger; brothers, Lloyd and Vernon Hanson; sisters, Esther Glass, Evelyn Hubenette, Dorothy Hodgkinson, Geraldine Clayton and Floyette Hanson.