Gary Allen Hanson

Gary Hanson, 79, of Bemidji, MN died Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at his home.

Memorial Services will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 31, 2025 at Clearwater Lutheran Church, Shevlin, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Gary “Squeak” Hanson was born on February 19, 1946, in Bagley, Minnesota to Elenora and Henry Hanson.  He was raised in Shevlin and graduated from Bagley High School in 1964.  He then joined the Air Force returning home in 1969, when he met the love of his life, Donna Risland and they were married on August 22, 1970.  They have two daughters Melody and Tanya.  They lived in Bemidji, Alida and Pinewood before settling into their forever home on Coyote Road in Bemidji.   He worked various truck driving jobs throughout the years before going to work for Beltrami County and retiring from the Beltrami County Highway Department in 2011.  He continued to drive truck until just a few short years ago.  He loved to hunt, fish and make maple syrup.  His Deer Lake fishing buddies would quickly become the syrup crew every year and he loved that camaraderie so very much.  He especially loved spending time with his sisters and brothers, friends Paul and Annette, children and grandchildren and his beloved labradors.  He was always good for a laugh or a joke and would do anything for anyone.    He will be sorely missed by everyone in his life and his community.  

He is survived by his brothers Rodney (Judy) Wilcox, Mike (Kathie) Hanson and Brian Hanson and sisters Susan (Steve) Anderson and Roxane (Terry) Waggoner; daughters Melody (Rick) Gorden and Tanya (Chris) Molash and brother-in-law Dan Risland.  He is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends; and he loved every one of them.  He is preceded in death by his wife Donna, mother and father Elenora and Henry, mother and father-in-law, Donald and Myrtle Risland, brother-in-law Orlyn Risland and sister-in-law Marlene Tverberg.

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