Robert A. ’Bob’ Hanson

Robert A. "Bob" Hanson, age 78, former President of Winona State University, died January 9, 2006, in Bethany Homes, Fargo, ND.Bob was born on May 28, 1927 to Henry and Gena Flaata Hanson in Hector, MN. He graduated from Hector High School in 1946 and then served in the Army Air Corps. He met Helen Lofgren, from Moose Lake, MN while a student at the University of Minnesota and they were married December 26, 1948. He earned Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees from the U of M. He devoted his life to public education, starting as a teacher in Ag Ed at Danube High School, then the West Central Ag School in Morris, MN. He was the Registrar and ultimately Vice President for Academic Affairs at Moorhead State University. While in Moorhead he served as Chairman of the Board of Education. During his time on the board, Kindergarten was re-initiated in the public schools, and a new Moorhead High School and Vocational Technical College were built. In 1977 he became President of Winona State University. In 1981, when Bob was 54, a brain aneurysm tragically changed his life, forcing an early retirement. In 1989 Bob and Helen moved back to the Fargo-Moorhead area which had been their home for so many years. During his years as an educator, administrator and leader, through recent years under the care of Bethany Homes staff, people saw his intelligence, his dry wit, his warmth and his dignity. He was ever a gentleman.He is survived by his wife, Helen; two sons, Steve Carri Lohse Hanson, Hugo, MN, Philip Betty Hanson, Mt. Vernon, IA; one daughter, Peggy Martin Hynes Hanson, Northfield, MN; one brother, Orin Charlene Hanson, Cape Corral, FL; one sister, Doris Merle Walter, Buffalo Lake, MN; and one grandchild, Diana Hanson and numerous nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents.In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley, 1701 38th Street SW, Fargo, ND 58103.