Ross J. Hansen

04/03/1921 - 10/28/2010

HANSEN, Ross J.
(Age 89)

Ross was born April 3, 1921 in Mantua, Utah. He passed away October 28, 2010 at home. He was a son of Lucius and Maud Hansen. He married Afton Petersen October 9, 1941. The marriage was later solomized in the Alberta, Canada L.D.S. temple. He attended elementary school in Mantua and high school in Brigham City, Utah. A veteran of World War II he served 50 months with the U.S. Army Air Corps attaining the rank of captain as a multi-engine aircraft pilot. He flew B-17s, B-25s and others. He was issued his civilian commercial pilot's license in June 1945. After the war he completed requirements and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Agronomy from Utah State Agricultural College, now Utah State University, and went to work as a Soil Scientist for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in Ogden, Utah and later in Grand Junction, Colorado. The last 30 years prior to his retirement in 1984 he was employed in Spokane by Phillips Chemical Company, a division of Phillips Petroleum Co. He was Northwest Regional Manager at the time of his retirement. He and his family resided in Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, and Montana before moving to Spokane in 1956. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in various church positions including 21 years as Financial Clerk at both Ward and Stake levels. Since retirement he and his wife of 69 years divided their time between their home in Spokane Valley, their winter home in Mesa, Arizona and their summer cabin on Hayden Lake, Idaho. He enjoyed sports as a participant and as a spectator supporting his four sons' and three grandsons' sports participation in school and church activities. As a father of four sons with a loving, supportive wife he enjoyed camping, hiking and boating activities. A special event was an overnight hiking trip to the bottom of the Grand Canyon from the South Rim to Phantom Ranch accompanied by two sons and a daughter-in-law. He was an avid fan of the National Football League, a loyal spectator of the NBA, and for several years held season tickets for Major League Baseball spring training in the Phoenix/Tucson area. He enjoyed playing golf and was a charter member of the Golf and Country Club in the senior community where he and his wife spent the winter months. He enjoyed the wonders of nature from sun-up to sun-down. He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, three brothers, and his eldest son. He is survived by his wife, Afton; his sons, Russell, Alan and wife Linda, and Neil and wife Karen; also three grandsons, a granddaughter, and two great-grandsons (soon to be three). He is also survived by his younger sister, Dora Palmer, and her numerous children, grandchilren and great-granchildren. Funeral services will be held at noon Wednesday, November 3 in the Evergreen LDS chapel at E. 14111 16th in Spokane Valley. A viewing at the church will precede the services for an hour. Interment will take place at South Pines Cemetery on 32nd and Highway 27 following the services. Refreshments will be served at the Evergreen church following the burial. In lieu of flowers consider a donation to Hospice of Spokane who have been very helpful to Ross and the family.