Larry Hanson

Larry L. Hanson, 77, Bismarck, passed away at Sanford Medical Center, on Dec. 14, 2018, after a brief illness. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home of Williston is assisting the family. Friends may sign the online register and give their condolences at www.fulkersons.com.

His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018, at First Lutheran Church in Williston. Pastor Brian Knutson will officiate. Interment with military rites will be held in Riverview Cemetery, Williston. A family service opened to the public will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home.

Friends may call at the Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home from 1 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. and at the church one hour prior to services on Wednesday.

Larry was a long time Williston resident and was born in Powers Lake Jan. 7, 1941, moving to Williston at age 7, and graduating from Williston High School in 1959. He attended the University of North Dakota on a full basketball scholarship playing four years for the Fighting Sioux, serving as co-captain of the team and being named Most Valuable Player his senior year. In 1963 after completing flight training and as an ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate, he received his bachelor's in Business Administration as well as his commission as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army.

As a helicopter pilot, he attained the rank of Captain and was stationed at various bases in the U.S. before being assigned for one year to a Medical Service Corps MASH unit in Korea. After a short period back in the states, he was sent to Vietnam, where he flew medical evacuation missions for another year and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf clusters.

In 1968 he returned to Williston and met PattiAnn Benth. They were married Aug. 30, 1969 and established their home in Williston. Larry worked as a parole/probation officer for the state of North Dakota and began building their rental and laundry business. Over the next thirty three years they operated Mobile Village, Hanson Mobile Home Park, Village Laundry, Park Laundromat, the Wash House and Village Apartments. During that time he actively served in leadership roles for organizations as varied as the Chamber, Area Development Foundation, Great NW Boy Scout Council, Country Club, Upper Missouri Lake Sakakawea planning, as well as participating in major fund drives for community projects.

He was instrumental in creating property tax relief while serving as Mayor of the City of Williston and later also served as a Williams County Commissioner. With the ability to engage with all sides, he received appointments from six governors of both political parties to positions on the State Pardon Board, State Water Commission, N.D. Employment and Training Forum, and others. He played handball, amateur basketball for thirty years and has been an avid golfer, hunter and fisherman.

Larry Hanson is a member of First Lutheran Church in Williston and Peace Lutheran Church at his winter home in Peoria, Ariz. He is survived by his wife, PattiAnn Hanson; son, Robert Andrew Hanson, of Williston; and his children, Emily Taylor and McKade Robert Hanson; sisters, Marilyn Gray and Julie Hastings, as well as extended families and friends.