Rodney Thor HANSEN

HANSEN,
Rodney Thor

Rodney Thor Hansen passed away on November 29, 2016 at the age of 76. He was born in Spokane, the second of three sons to Thor and Trudy Hansen. While growing up, Rod spent many happy days hunting, fishing, water skiing and swimming at his Aunt Nora's cabin on Diamond Lake. Rod graduated from North Central High School in 1958, Whitworth in 1962, U.W. in 1964 and finished with a PhD in Mathematics from WSU in 1966. In 1964, Rod married a Central Valley girl, Karen Anderson. Together they moved to Bozeman, MT where Rod taught at MSU from 1966-1981. While in Montana their three children were born: Derrick, Heather, and Ty. Rod was active in the First Presbyterian Church where lasting friendships were formed. He led the family on many adventures during their stay in Montana...including rock hounding for agates on the many rivers there, fruit and berry picking, and lots of fishing as well. Rod also authored a calculus textbook while at MSU. He was an avid runner, ran many Bloomsdays, even completing a marathon. The family returned to Spokane in 1981, where Rod taught at his Alma Mater Whitworth until 2002. Rod thoroughly enjoyed his interaction with students and faculty at Whitworth; however, after teaching Mathematics for 36 years he was able to fully transition to a second career and realize a dream he had held for many years-to have his own orchard! It began in 1986 when he and his family bought land, built a home and planted fruit trees that over the course of 30 years has become a successful orchard business: Hansen's Green Bluff Orchard. Rod was a guiding light, kind, fair, devoted to family. He quietly led the way down the path of a Godly life that we all shared in and continue to be inspired by. Rod is survived by his wife of 52 years, Karen; three children, Derrick Hansen, Heather (Sergei) Kvokov, and Ty (Eileen) Hansen; four wonderful grandchildren (all of whom he spent countless hours teaching to swim and fish at the family cabin on Deer Lake): Alek and Gabriella Kvokov of Spokane, Zachary and Kyle Hansen of Seattle, WA, a brother, Daryl (Susan) Hansen of Phoenix, AZ, sisters-in-law Charlene Hansen, Bev Carlander, Andrea (Britt) Barrineau, Kathy Ferster, and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Witness to the Resurrection and Celebration of his Life will be held on January 7 at 1 pm at Rod's home church, Colbert Presbyterian, 3211 E. Colbert Rd., Colbert, WA.