Dennis E. Hanson

Dennis Eugene Hanson, 76, Newfolden, Minnesota, passed away unexpectedly due to heart complications on Monday, April 22, 2019 at Altru Health System, Grand Forks, North Dakota. Funeral Services for Dennis will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at 10:30 AM at Westaker Free Lutheran Church, Newfolden, Minnesota with Pastor Phil Rokke officiating. Burial will be held at the Folden Cemetery, rural Newfolden, Minnesota. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 3, 2019, 6 – 8 PM with a 7:00 prayer service at Westaker Free Lutheran Church in Newfolden, Minnesota and also one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.

Dennis Eugene Hanson was born October 21, 1942 at Mercy Hospital in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, son of Harold and Olga (Swanson) Hanson of Newfolden, Minnesota. He attended grade school and high school in Newfolden – graduating in 1960. After graduation, he and a few close friends traveled to California to make their fortune…picking strawberries. He eventually started working for his uncle in Turlock, California, building swimming pools. After some time, he went on to build his own swimming pool business. On December 21, 1963, Dennis and Shirley Hawksworth were married and to this marriage two sons were born, Randy and Alan. He came back to Minnesota to farm his parents land in 1968 and build swimming pools in the northern area of Minnesota. After the death of his father, he went on to farm full time in Newfolden. He raised everything from carrots to the rabbits that would eat them.

On April 17, 1981, Dennis and Garnette Pederson Stephenson were married in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Dennis brought his two sons to the marriage and Garnette brought her two sons to the marriage, Ryan and Chris. In the late 80’s, two daughters were born to Dennis and Garnette, Andriana and Britta. Later in the 80’s, Dennis enrolled his farmland into the CRP program and went back to school where he became a certified, non-destructive technician. He traveled across the country inspecting pipelines, buildings, and wind turbine blades. He eventually started his own business, Technology Plus, Inc., in 1995 which he and Garnette proudly ran until 2017 when he retired. In his retirement, he went back to his true passion and farmed with his son, Chris. Dennis enjoyed everything that had to do with his farm; plowing fields, tending his garden, fixing equipment, surveying the fields in the evening with his wife in the Ranger, and even mowing the lawns. He was very proud of his Norwegian heritage and enjoyed working with his brother, Wes, on the family genealogy. He loved to teach anyone anything about farming, history, computers, or whatever he had read that day in the paper. He also enjoyed anything his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were doing and attended many of their events. He was a kind and generous husband, father, and grandpa who loved his family above everything.

Dennis is survived by his wife, Garnette and by his children – Randy (Michelle) Hanson, Eden Valley, Minnesota; Alan (Michelle) Hanson, West Jefferson, North Carolina; Ryan (Holly) Stephenson, Newfolden, Minnesota; Chris (Andrea) Stephenson, Hutchinson, Minnesota; Andriana (Alex) Sethre, Grand Forks, North Dakota; and Britta Hanson, East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Grandchildren – Ashley (Chad) Lust; Karlee Hanson; Elynn Hanson; Keaton Stephenson; Allison Goebel (Dennis Brannon); Melissa Goebel (Marcus Binns); Josh Goebel; Blaine Stephenson; Haley Stephenson; Mia Narvaiz; Keiley Sethre; and Astrid Sethre. Great-Grandchildren Macie Young-Lust; Helaina Brannon-Goebel; and Maelyn Binns. Brother – Wes (Jeanette) Hanson; Sisters-In-Law and Brothers-In-Law – Connie Nordin; Lynnda (John) McNelly; Diedre (Jan) Nordin; and Jaeden (Lorie) Pederson; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family and great friends. He is preceded in death by his parents Harold and Olga Hanson and In-Laws Garner and Carole Pederson.