Donald Keith Hansen

1939 - 2023

Donald Keith Hansen
February 12, 1939 - June 16, 2023
Sacramento, California - On Friday, June 16th Donald Hansen passed away peacefully with Meg, his wife of 50 years, at his side. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends who will always cherish his big smile, powerful handshake, and booming laugh.
Don was born in Sacramento, CA on February 12, 1939 to Kenneth and Lucille Hansen. Don attended McClatchy High School and spent his summers as a teen working at the family business, Crystal Cream & Butter Company, with brief vacations to the family cabin at Lake Tahoe. Don attended UC Berkeley and then UC Davis as the family business drew him closer to home. During these formative years Don made many lifelong friendships. After graduating from UC Davis, Don completed his military service and then returned to work for his father and two uncles in sales at Crystal.
As a Sales Rep, Don built lasting relationships with Crystal's grocery customers and distributors and was soon promoted to General Sales Manager. The sales growth under Don's leadership drove several expansions of Crystal's 10th and D St plant, which enabled Crystal to become the largest full line dairy manufacturer in Northern California. In 1983 Don became the President of Crystal and its subsidiary, Vitafreze Frozen Confections, and soon acquired McColls Dairy in Redding. In the early 1990s he spearheaded the construction of a new, state-of-the-art bottling plant in South Sacramento. Don took tremendous pride in ensuring Crystal's products were of unsurpassed quality and of Crystal's place in the Sacramento community.
Don was an ardent supporter of the California dairy industry and served as a longtime director of several dairy association including the Dairy Institute of California of which he was President from 1989-1991. In 2003 Don retired as President of Crystal and passed leadership to the next generation. He served as Chairman of the company until its sale to HP Hood in 2007. What Don loved most about the business was the enduring bonds with employees, independent dairy farmers, and customers. It truly was a family business in every sense and Don fondly remembered these relationships in his retirement years.
In addition to his business career at Crystal, Don was active in the Sacramento business community and had an entrepreneurial spirit. In 1973 Don helped his close friend Jon Kelly found River City Bank and while serving as a director of the Bank from 1973-2007, River City grew to be the largest community Bank in the Sacramento region. In 1990 he founded Crystal Mountain Spring Waters, which grew rapidly and was sold to DS Waters in 2006.
Don was a loving father to his 3 daughters and 2 stepchildren and always made sure the family kitchen was fully stocked with Crystal ice cream, dairy products and Vitafreze popsicles. This made his kids very popular with their friends. He was passionate about golf, duck hunting, skiing, Labrador retrievers and Cal sports (Go Bears!) His fondest travel memories were to Lake Tahoe, Hawaii and Africa. He loved Sacramento and one would often run into Don having a business lunch at Vic's or the Wienery or enjoying a duck dinner with friends at Frank Fats. He was a longtime member of the Del Paso County Club, the Sutter Club, the H Pond, and the Sutter Butte Outing Club. In his later years, Don enjoyed spending winters with Meg at their vacation home at Marrakesh Country Club in Palm Desert.
Don was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Inge Scott. He is survived by his wife, Meg; his children, Mimi Evans (Duke), Mike Newell, (Jenifer), Katie Dudensing (Ed), and Julie Skelly (Christian); his grandchildren, Holly (Craig), Tara, Kate, Marea (Olivia), Caroline, Annie, John, Ben, Maggi, Julia, Grace, and Natalie; and his lab Rusty.
Don's family would like to share special appreciation to the Oars Senior Living, UC Davis Medical Center, and Vitas Hospice for the excellent care he received in recent years as his Alzheimer's progressed. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Wetlands Preservation Fund of the California Waterfowl Association. A private memorial is being planned for a later date.