Dale Hanson, 83
Published 7:53 am Monday, October 23, 2017
Dale A. Hanson, 83, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, at the Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna, Minnesota.
Dale Hanson, 83
Dale was born on May 10, 1934, at a family farm in Newry Township, near Blooming Prairie to Aldine and Aura (Berg) Hanson. He attended a one-room country elementary school, and graduated from Blooming Prairie High School.
Dale was a veteran of the Korean War in the United States Army, serving as a cryptologist in Japan with the National Security Unit. Following his honorable service, he returned home and attended Austin Junior College before earning his undergraduate degree from Mankato State University. He later attended graduate school at both St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in Winona and Michigan State University in East Lansing. On Sept. 5, 1959, Dale married Austra Giga in Owatonna.
Dale enjoyed a lifelong career in the computer industry, starting as a programmer with Remington Rand Univac, before joining IBM in 1962, working in Rochester, Minnesota; Lansing, Michigan; Milan, Italy; Palo Alto, California; and Fort Worth, Texas. He retired in 1992 and the Hansons moved back to Blooming Prairie that same year, establishing a branch of the Käthe Wohlfahrt Company, which distributed traditional hand-made German Christmas ornaments across the United States.
He was a proud member of the First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie, where he served as a lector and sang in the choir. He was also a member of the Blooming Prairie Chamber of Commerce; the American Legion, Post No. 91; the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 878 of Blooming Prairie; and the board of directors of Arkema. Dale loved the theater, music, fishing, golfing, and gardening. He and Austra created a prairie wildflower garden, enjoyed by the local community. They traveled extensively—to Alaska, China, Egypt, Europe, Israel, Mexico, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Latvia, Austra’s native country.
Dale is survived by his wife, Austra, of Blooming Prairie; children Bea (Stephanie Davies) Hanson of Brooklyn, New York; John (Robyn) Hanson of Grand Marais, Minnesota; sister Doris Samuelson and sister-in-law Gloria Hanson; nieces and nephews, other relatives; and many, many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Paul; brothers Kasper (Norma) Hanson, Lyle (Evelyn) Hanson and Luther Hanson; sister Lorna Hanson; and brother-in-law Rolyn Samuelson.
Dale will be remembered for his exceptional kindness, gentleness, and compassion.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie, presided by Rev. Jeff Sandgren and Rev. Heidi Heimgartner. There will be two visitations: the first from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 23, at the Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home and the second at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at the First Lutheran Church. Interment will be in the Red Oak Grove Cemetery, rural Austin.
Donations in Dale’s memory may be directed to the Blooming Prairie Servicemen’s Club, First Lutheran Church, or a charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.