Harold B. Hansen, 95, Blooming Prairie

Published 10:31 am Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Harold B. ‘Bud’ Hansen, 95, of Blooming Prairie, Minn., died Monday, June 17, 2013, at Prairie Manor Care Center, Blooming Prairie.

Harold Hansen

Harold was born on Oct. 6, 1917, in Blooming Prairie Township, Minn., to Benjamin A. and Amanda O. (Munck) Hansen. A lifelong Blooming Prairie resident, he attended local schools and graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1936. He served with the United States Army Air Corp and trained as a weatherman. He was stationed in Burma and India in the China Theater as a weatherman, helping pilots fly over ‘The Hump’. On July 3, 1948, Harold married Mildred C. Hammar in Hibbing, Minn. Bud owned and operated Hansen’s Farm Services buying and selling eggs nationwide. The store also sold Purina Feeds. He later became active in real estate as the owner of Hansen Real Estate Company, joined later by his son, Dale.

An active member of First Baptist Church in Blooming Prairie, Bud served as a Sunday school teacher, head usher, deacon, trustee and church moderator. He was on the Cemetery Council at Danish Baptist Cemetery, served on the City Council, Chairman for the Heart Fund Drive, Vice Chairman of the Steele County Republicans, Chairman of the Blooming Prairie Centennial Committee Soybean Festival and was a Boy Scout Leader. He received the Scouter of the Year award in 1969. A special honor for him was receiving the Jaycee’s Distinguished Citizen Award. In his leisure time, Bud enjoyed hunting, fishing and following the activities of his grandchildren.

Survivors include his children, George Hansen of Blooming Prairie, David (Terri) Hansen of Roseville, Minn., Harlan (RaeJean) Hansen of Blooming Prairie, Harold (Jennifer) Hansen of Owatonna, Minn., Heidi (Marv) Thompson of Blooming Prairie; 14 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brother Merton (Jean) Hansen of Johnston, Iowa; sister Phyllis Schuttler of Bozeman, Mont.; sister-in-law Audrey Hammar of Hibbing; brother-in-law Ed Gasteiger of Ithaca, N.Y.; sister-in-law Connie Hansen of North Carolina; many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Amanda Hansen; wife Mildred; sons Greg Hansen and Dale Hansen; two brothers, Elwood Hansen and Burnett Hansen; and one sister, Glenda.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 21, 2013, at First Baptist Church in Blooming Prairie with Pastor Matthew Fennell officiating. Visitation will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home. Interment will be in Danish Baptist Cemetery at 9 a.m. Friday morning, with military rites by American Legion Post 52. The family prefers memorials be directed to Prairie Manor Care Center, Danish Baptist Cemetery or First Baptist Church, Blooming Prairie. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.