Lowell Hanson, 88, died on Thursday, July 29, 2010 at Minnesota Greenleaf in Thief River Falls, MN surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Reverend John Voelker, PhD officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Thief River Falls, MN. Military honors will be provided by the American Legion Ecklund-Holmstrom Post #117 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2793.

Visitation will be 5 P.M. to 8:P.M. on Monday, August 2, 2010 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with a 7:00 P.M. Prayer Service on Monday evening. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Lowell Hanson was born on September 2, 1921 in Grand Plain Township, Marshall County, MN. He was the son of Laura (Erickson) Hanson and Emil Hanson. Lowell was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.

Lowells childhood days were spent on the farm. At the age of 16, Lowell worked for 1 year for a dairy farmer near Spokane, Washington and later worked as a shipping inspector at the Lockheed Vega airplane factory, which was located in Los Angeles, California.

In 1942, Lowell enlisted in the Marines and served 3 ½ years as a Fleet Marine on the USS Mount Vernon in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged in October, 1945.

Lowell was united in marriage to Ruth Ristau on February 8, 1947 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Mavie. The couple moved to Spokane, Washington where Lowell worked for Pre Cool Inc. for 4 years while also attending trade school in the evenings.

In 1951, Lowell with his wife and two small sons moved back to Minnesota. They purchased the Ristau family farm and farmed there until 1981. While on the farm, Lowell was a member of the Germantown Lutheran Church and a member of Silver Creek Lutheran Church. Lowell served on the church councils and was town clerk on the Grand Plain Township board for 20 years. Lowell also served as a director on the Farmers Coop Grain and Seed board. In 1964, Lowell started his own Hanson Heating business selling, installing and servicing furnaces. In 1989, Lowell and Ruth moved to Thief River Falls and became members of Trinity Lutheran Church.

Lowell liked fishing and hunting, especially with his sons and grandsons. Lowell always enjoyed being around his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Lowell is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Ruth; two sons, Bruce, (Linda) Hanson, Willmar, MN and Dave (Jeanne) Hanson of Wyoming, MN; two daughters, Marlene Langenberger of New Hope, MN and Valerie (fiance, Dave Bohmer of Brooten, MN)Bakken of Elk River, MN; 8 grandchildren; and 5 great -great grandchildren.

Lowell was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Ellen, Myrtle, and Arlene; brothers, Lester, Curtis, LeRoy, and Emil; and son-in-law, Dan Langenberger.

Family condolences may be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com

ORGANIST: Ida Nordvall
SOLOIST: Diane Johnson
SELECTIONS: In The Garden , Beautiful Savior & Nearer My God To Thee
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: The Old Rugged Cross & Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us #481
SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER: Cindy Clow
CASKETBEARERS: Lowells grandchildren, Tim Hanson, Dan Hanson, Rob Bakken, Alicia Bakken, Heather Hanson, Kristine Hanson, Kimberly Hanson and Angela Hanson
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: Lowells friends, Carl Seed & Kermit Maidment