Donald Bruce Hanson was born August 3, 1925 at the family farm near Jamestown, Kansas, to  Andy Peter and Mildred Walker Hanson. He died Monday, July 12, 2010 at Israel Family Hospice House, Ames, Iowa after a long illness.

He attended Salt Marsh School , District #93, near his home and graduated from Jamestown High School.  He made public affirmation of Christian faith on November 12 , 1938.

He planted his first wheat in the fall of 1943, and continued farming until 1984, when he retired from farming and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Marymount College in Salina, Kansas .  He worked for ten years as a psychiatric nurse .

In 1949 he was married to his childhood sweetheart, Patricia Ann Peterson. They celebrated more than fifty-eight years of marriage.

Mr. Hanson contributed to community health and education in many ways. He helped establish the Cloud County Community College , serving as vice president on its board of trustees; and he served on the board of St. Joseph Hospital in Concordia as well as other health and education boards. He was active in state and national Masonic organizations, serving as Grand Commander of Knights Templar of Kansas . With Patricia, he helped to establish an annual trip to the Holy Land for Kansas pastors and their spouses, a Masonic sponsored legacy which endures to this day. He and Patricia enjoyed traveling to Masonic and Eastern Star gatherings around the country. In the early 70's, he hosted a popular radio program.

Don could talk to anyone, and he made anyone who met him feel he was interested in them. Many will treasure memories of his fine tenor voice. He was very observant of nature, and he taught his children to see and love the natural world. He was a happy man, taught his children how to be happy, and often confided in them, "My heart sings a little song."

Don and Pat are the parents of Dr. Louis Hanson (Julie Tate) of Durham, Maine; Dr. Rebecca Hanson Richardson (Harry Richardson) of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; the Rev. Rachael Hanson of St. Paul, Minnesota ; and Sr. Aemiliane of the Holy Monastery of the Twelve Apostles , Karditsa, Greece. Their grandchildren are Elizabeth Blythe, Andrew Perry Hanson and Michael Caron; Elizabeth Hastings Grattan Richardson and Nathan Harold Hanson Richardson ; Katherine Patricia McFall, Christina Julia McFall and Anna Sarah Hanson McFall. His two great-grandchildren are Lucy and Tuck Mercer, children of Elizabeth Blythe.

His heart found rest in gatherings with family and friends at the Cabin on the bank of the Republican River , where he enjoyed fishing, telling stories, and singing. They moved to Roland, Iowa in 2001 to be close to Rachael and her family, and they visited Louis, Rebecca, and Sr. Aemiliane many times in New England and Greece . He said, "Always I have had a close involvement with church, community, and family."

Mr. Hanson was preceded in death by his beloved wife Patricia on January 8, 2008; by his granddaughter Amy Leigh Hanson Richardson, his older brothers, Louis, Clarke, and Joe, and his parents.

Memorials to the Danish Lutheran Saron Baptist Cemeteries Foundation in care of the funeral home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, July 16, 2010 at Bergen Lutheran Church in Roland, Iowa with Rev. Burton Everist and Rev. Thomas Ruess officiating.  There will be a visitation of family and friends on Thursday, July 15, 2010 from 5-7 PM at Bergen Lutheran Church, Roland.  Soderstrum Funeral Home, Roland, Iowa is in charge of arrangements in Iowa.

Committal services will be held at 11 AM, Saturday, July 17, 2010 at the Danish Lutheran Cemetery, Jamestown, KS with Rev. Rachael Hanson & Rev. Art Bliese officiating.  Viewing by the community will be held from 9 AM to 10:30 AM, Saturday, July 17, 2010 at the Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, Concordia.  Memorial services will be held at 3:00 PM, Saturday, July 17, 2010 at the Ada Lutheran Church, rural Courtland, KS with Rev. Delvin Strecker and Rev. Art Bliese officiating.