Descendents of Jorgen and Anna (Andersen) Hansen celebrated their 50th annual reunion with a two-day event, July 20 and 21, 2013.

The first annual reunion was held Aug. 5, 1962, at the Erhart and Hazel (Hansen) Penning farm near Lyle, the location for the most reunions at 15 times. There wasn’t a reunion in 1969 and 1973 due to deaths in the host family.

The 2013 celebration began on a beautiful, sunny Saturday, July 20 at the Anderson farm near London, Minn., which borders the old Hansen farm to the south. The celebration was hosted by Ila Anderson, Richard Anderson, Shirley, Steve and Stephanie Fingerson, and Donna, Roe and Zach Naylor. Sixty-nine family members reminisced and looked at photos, maps of where family members lived in the vicinity. Later, several journeyed to see what was left of the old Hansen homestead.

The celebration continued Sunday at the Fairlane Building on the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. This day was hosted by Berneta Hansen, Sandy Doppelhammer, Ron and Judy Hansen, Jill, Jay, and Stacy Doppelhammer, Kelly Anderson, Robin and Mark Russell and Emily and Tim Reed and their families. Besides the Anderson and Hansen families, Tony Mudra and Joyce and Rick Culhane were on the planning committee. The day started with a few sprinkles but turned out to be pleasant and sunny. A potluck dinner was served to 106 family members and four guests. People got reacquainted, watched videos of past parties, viewed pictures, genealogy books and family items and had a good time.

Members came from mainly Minnesota but also Oregon, California, New York, Tennessee, Alaska, Colorado, Nebraska and Canada.

Everyone appeared to have an enjoyable time and made many new memories to go along with the old ones, renewed old relationships and started some new ones that will hopefully last another 50 years.

The 2014 reunion will be hosted by the Bertha Weber families on the third Sunday in July at a location to be determined later.