OBITUARY: Hanson, Merrill Donald, Mitchell County, Iowa [Mitchell County Press-News, online, www.mcpress.com, Posted Mar. 20, 2002] Merrill Donald Hanson Funeral services were held Thurs., March 13, 2002 at Wesley United Methodist Church for Merrill Donald Hanson, age 75, of 673 14th St. NE, Mason City. Rev. Bill Poland officiated and interment followed the services at the St. Ansgar Cemetery. Military rites were conducted at the burial. Fullerton Funeral Home, Mason City, was in charge of arrangements. Mr. Hanson died Sunday, March 10, 2002 at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, Mason City. Merrill Donald Hanson was born Aug. 30, 1926 the son of Sefred and Cora (Session) Hanson in Pope County, MN near Glenwood, MN. Don attended school in Pope County. The family then moved to Iowa in 1942. He joined the Civil Conservation Corp. at the age of 15 in the fall of 1941 at Fergus Falls, MN doing forestry work clearing wooded lots. He later farmed with his father and brothers until he was drafted in 1944 into the United States Army. Later, he volunteered to join the Navy. Following active service, he was honorably discharged at Ft. Snelling, MN. He returned to farm with his brother, Leo and wife Avis from 1947 until 1948. He then attained a job as lineman with Central Iowa Telephone Co. based in Toledo, IA. He served the Lyle, MN area. On Nov. 17, 1950 he began working at Decker Meat Packing Plant, later known as Armour Foods. The old plant closed in 1975 and Don painted houses until the new plant opened in 1978 when he returned there to work. He retired Dec. 15, 1983 having dedicated 30 years of service to his work. Don was united in marriage on June 15, 1955 to Shirley Dippell in Austin, MN. He was baptized in the Methodist faith and was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church. He was a member of United Packing house workers Local P-38 and served as Division Stewart, Safety Committee and was a member of VFW. Preceding him in death were his parents; his sisters, Vera and Ruth in infancy; brothers, Cecil, Theodore, and Harold and other relatives. Those thankful for sharing his life include his wife Shirley; two sons, Marshall Hanson and special friend Regina De Maris and her children, Rob, Jamie and Kellie of Dumont, Randy Hanson and special friend Patty Cooper of Mason City; one brother Leo Hanson and wife Avis of St. Ansgar; nieces and nephews, Priscilla Schulz, Jeanie Landeen, Gloria Hanson all from Alexandria, MN, Delores Mullen and her husband Bruce of Minneapolis, MN, Beverly Rubenstein and her husband Steve of New Jersey, Dennis Hanson and wife Mary of St. Ansgar, Lisa Hansen and husband Jeff of St. Ansgar Copyright (c) 2002 by Kermit Kittleson (Note: I am not necessarily related to the subject of the obituary.) This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. **************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material,must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ****************************************************************************