Lester Hanson

Lester Hanson, age 91, died on February 14, 2019, at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 2, at 11:00 AM at First English Lutheran Church in Ortonville, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Pastor David Tonn will officiate and burial will be in Mound Cemetery in Ortonville.

Lester Wayne Hanson was born on February 10, 1928, in Prior Township of Big Stone County, MN, to Charles William and Elsie Viola (Stanton) Hanson. He lived in Prior Township on a farm all of his life. Lester attended country school and graduated from the Morris Ag School. He was drafted into the United States Army in February of 1953 and served his country until he was honorably discharged in February of 1955. When Lester returned home to Graceville, he farmed with his four brothers and kept farming until his retirement in 1993.

Lester was an active member of First English Lutheran Church in Ortonville, served as treasurer on the Farmers Union Board, served on the Prior Township Board, was a member of the Campbell-Williams American Legion Post 258, and the VFW.

In his spare time, Lester enjoyed doing ham radio, photography, tinkering with machinery, gardening,  hunting, playing guitar, and had a love for food. He could fix just about anything and loved spending time with his family at the lake.

Lester is survived by his special friend, Shirley Krueger; her son, Joe (Lynn) Krueger; and son, Nathanael Krueger; many nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death are his parents; siblings: Oren, Mildred, Francis, Earl, Alice, and Willard; along with many other family members and friends.