The following are my memories of my Dad, as I shared at his memorial service.

I want to add my thanks to all of you who have come to join us this morning. It means a lot to our family. Thank you for your kind words and your remembrances of my Dad.

I want to also thank Pastor Julie for her faithfulness to make the trips to see Dad at the nursing home; to serve him communion and to be with him during his last day here on earth. I also want to commend the owner and staff of St. Anthony Park home for taking Dad into their care, and providing excellent care for Dad over the past year.

I love my Dad, and I will miss him.

As I have been thinking back about my Dad's life I have realized that we have had a lot of great times together, so please indulge me as briefly share some of them with you.

Dad was an active guy and some of my earliest memories are of us kids wrestling with him and dragging him out of bed in the morning. I remember playing soccer, football and softball with him. We had huge games of bombardment in our back yard with the Trulen's and the Mounce's. He would take us camping and canoeing. Dad supported our sports habit by driving us all over town taking us to practices – and he was one our biggest fan. He coached my baseball team for a couple of years, and, if memory serves, we went to the championship game the year that Dad – and brother Dennis were coaching us.

Family was very important for Dad. He & Mom often packed all 8 of us into the station wagon for trips to visits to relatives in MN and here in Wisconsin. Dad and Mom spent hours talking about who-knows-what with their brothers, sisters and in-laws, while we played with our cousins. I loved these extended-family times. The annual Hanson family reunion was an important event in Dad's life – He loved to see the families get together  - and he wanted us to love it also.

Doug told me a story about Dad that happened during our Christmas gathering at Tom's house in 2008. He and Dad were watching about 20 of us playing in the annual Hanson hockey game behind the house,  when Dad exclaimed, "look at that! This is all my family!" He was so proud that all of us got together every year, and that we enjoyed each other's company. Perhaps he realized then that the whole crowd in front of him was his legacy, and the legacy will continue long after he was gone.

Dad was the family barber – At least for us boys. During the younger years he would use the buzz-cut attachment on his clippers and would finish the job in short order.  As we got older we graduated to the longer big-boys cut which proved to be more of a challenge:  Dad got pretty good at it, but every once in a while he had some difficulty matching the length of the hair on both sides, and would alternate cutting one side, then the other trying to make both sides look even.  It was tough on us sometimes because we had to live with the results.

The upstairs floor of our home in Shoreview was large and open. All four of us boys slept up there and we had some pretty fun times together.  Sometimes on Sunday evenings we would all go to bed and lie there in the dark as we listened to the National Lampoon radio show. One thing about this show was that it was sponsored by an instrument company named Selmer Clarinets. We thought that it was so funny that there were clarinets named Selmer!  One night I remember clearly that we were making a lot of noise upstairs when we were supposed to be in bed sleeping.  Suddenly Doug said, "Shhhhh!! The clarinet!!!"  We knew exactly what he was saying.  Dad had a way of sneaking up those creaky  stairs, and Doug was warning us to be quiet because he heard Dad coming.  So we all ducked our heads under the covers, pretended to be asleep and snickered to ourselves while Dad yelled at us for making so much noise.

We respected Dad's authority though; He was the head of our home, and he ran a pretty tight ship. He would spank us when he thought that we needed it, but he always gave me a hug afterwards, letting me know that things were OK between us. I hated the spanking, but I loved the hugs.

I remember one hot summer evening when I was about 18. Dad had to repair a broken spring on the garage door and asked me to help.  We got out the instructions for the repair kit, and a 6-pack of Blatz beer and got to work. I remember it as a great evening of talking and working together. After several hours we had finished the repair – and the beer. I remember feeling a little light-headed and stumbling as I climbed down the step ladder. We both laughed. Afterwards I remember a sense of accomplishment and also a sense of validation; that Dad really appreciated the help and appreciated the time that we had spent together.

Dad was there for me when I needed him and was willing to sacrifice to provide opportunities to get ahead in life.  In 10th grade I was offered a scholarship to attend a private school in South Minneapolis and Mom and Dad made it work, even though it was not in the budget. After college Dad would buy me tools for birthdays and Christmas to make sure I had them for home projects. When Dad retired and started making furniture he filled our house with end tables, a bench for our entry way, an entertainment center, and numerous smaller items. Dad was there to help me out with home projects when I needed a hand.

There is one story that I having been waiting to tell and this one is truly amazing. By the Spring of 2009 Dad had been suffering the effects of Alzheimer's for a while and my Mom was wondering how long it would be before Dad could no longer care for himself or even think for himself. Frankly, she knew that Dad was slowly slipping away and was concerned about where his spirit would go after he died. Dad faithfully attended church services as long as I can remember but he never really talked about his faith. Mom wanted to know where Dad stood on these matters so she started to talk with him about faith, forgiveness and heaven.  It was during these conversations that Dad admitted that he did not know if God was real and was convinced that this life on earth was all there is – Nothing more. We have all learned John 3:16. It says that whoever believes in God shall nor perish but have eternal life. This is our hope as Christians, and at that time in his life Dad did not have that hope.

Mom shared these concerns with Doug and I, and on Feb 19, 2009 we took the day off of work to spend the day with Dad. It was his birthday and we had a great day! We had lunch with Mom, Dad, Gilbert & Ardys and Dad was in great form. Afterwards we went back to the house and started to talk to Dad about faith. We told him that God loved him, that Jesus died for his sins and that he could be sure that he would go to heaven when he died. We told him that we loved him, and our hope was that we would be in heaven together someday. Dad was very lucid that day. He listened very graciously. He was not offended, but told us that he loved us, that he was proud of us and of who we had become. He appreciated what we had to say, but he was not willing to accept what we had to say.  At this point I asked Dad if he would be willing to ask God to show Himself to Dad if he was real. Dad said yes and we prayed together. We left with full hearts, knowing that it had been a good day, and hoping that seeds of faith had been sown in Dad's heart

Fast forward a couple of months to Easter Sunday. We travelled to Wisconsin to have Easter dinner with Mom & Dad. As soon as we arrived, Mom said to me, "You will not believe what happened this morning!" Dad took a nap after church. When he came out of his room he said to Mom "You will never believe what I just saw. I just saw Jesus raised from the dead!" Mom asked him how he knew it was Jesus, and he said that he just knew that it was – and that he was not very good looking. Mom asked Dad if he now believed in Jesus, that He was the son of God, and Dad replied, "I guess I have to now – What do I do next?" Mom told him that he needed to repent of his sins and to ask for God's forgiveness. She asked him if he was willing to do this and he said that he was.  Mom & Dad prayed together for the first time in their marriage and Dad asked Jesus into his life!

This is an incredible story of God's love for my Dad. Dad was not particularly looking for God, but he did ask God to show him that He was real. Within 2 months God answered that prayer in a way that few of us will ever experience! It was a gift to Dad and it was a gift to us.  I am confident now that Dad has truly gone on to be with the Lord. It was so sad to see Dad draw his final breaths, yet it was such a joyful time for me, knowing that Dad's suffering was over. That he no longer needed his worn out body and that he was moving on to the eternal life that God had prepared for him.

I love my Dad and I miss him, and I believe that I will see him again.

Each of us has our own memories of Selmer and each is as unique as the relationship. For me it’s important to record some of them as a tribute to Selmer, a great Father in law and wonderful man. 
 I was 19 when I was introduced to Selmer, my soon to be, but I didn't know it yet father in law. Dennis and I were both attending St. Cloud State University when Selmer and Doris drove to St. Cloud in the spring to see Dennis and the campus.
 We went on an outing to Riverside Park near the campus, we walked around and enjoyed the early cold spring in the park. Selmer took photos of the park and the river and me in varying poses behind a tree. He enjoyed photography and made slides out of his photos. Most of his photos of family events, trips and people were preserved in slide form and he bought a projector to view them. The slides were probably because it was less expensive than prints and movies, and you could always print the best photos. The slides could be projected on the wall, they were not quite family movies, but the next best thing at the time to record the history of a life and growing family. Ok, I admit to a very fuzzy recollection of all of this. All I remember is that it was chilly and we were in the park. I was a stranger to everyone, barely dating Dennis...but liked him a lot...so we had all just met. But, Selmer was engaging, warm and friendly. As I observed through the years he had the gift of conversation at appropriate times and he could make small talk for hours. This gift he passed on to Doug and Dennis. This was one of his charms. Selmer would be known to most of those he knew as humorous, kindly and generous.  OK NEW INFORMATION!~It was Dennis, who by the way was crazy about me, taking all those pictures of me in the park with his dad's camera... which makes much more sense. But, still...
 Selmer had lots of hobbies over the years. Besides photography, he enjoyed gardening and botany. It may have been by necessity more than leisure that he had a very large garden, but whatever the reason, he had the greenest thumb I’ve ever seen. He grew large potted plants in the house, had a green house to start vegetables for the garden in the spring. He grew all types of vegetables, plants, bushes, trees and flowers. He liked to experiment with varieties also. Much of the garden was started in the basement greenhouse on the workbench with grow lights, dirt and seed.
 He was well studied in all these endeavors, mostly self study, with magazines, books and manuals. But at times I remember hearing that he took classes to improve his basic knowledge. When his kids grew, he remodeled the small house for his growing family so his boys could have the upstairs for a bedroom and the family TV room would be downstairs. He had the wood rough sawed for the basement and made a fitting family room that would be used for years. A much needed second shower was put in the laundry room in later years when there were 5 teenagers in the house alongside two adults. Selmer did all these things by hand. He was industrious and resourceful all the while he was able to raise a family of seven comfortably.
 

In the early years, I remember the colorful coleus Selmer grew in pots and in the garden and the house plants that always grew and thrived. He also always kept an immaculate yard. The trees were always trim and the yard cut. He put his boys to work to help him in all of these things, I’m told by Dennis these were among his chores. In having his kids help, he was teaching them self sufficiency, discipline and the value of hard work. They are very industrious and resourceful to this day and this is one of the things I admire greatly in Selmer. He raised wonderful, hard working, honorable sons. I have to think this was one of his legacies.

I admire people who self-study in pursuit of a hobby or craft. Selmer grew grapes and made his own wine. He also picked choke cherries, dandelions and other fruit to make all kinds of wines. He wasn’t a drinker, but he loved to experiment with them using all kinds of fruit. Dennis and I both enjoyed a jug of his homemade choke cherry wine one night shortly after we met... but that's a story for another time and place. Selmer also made his own maple syrup later on from the maples on his property in Wisconsin. He ran lines and in the spring he’d haul the buckets of syrup up and down the hills. He enjoyed being outside, his dog Ralph following close at his side.

He loved his dogs, Toby for starters. I’d never met this dog, but it comes back often in sayings through Dennis in the winter when we all hear, “It’s colder than Toby’s butt out here.” But I came into the family when Sam was alive. After Sam passed, there wasn’t a dog around for a while, except those that Betty brought home. This included Ralph, who was Bette’s but when she moved away from home, Ralph stayed on. Ralph became Selmer’s best friend and they walked the hills together for years until Ralph just never came home. Then along came Jack who he also cared for well in his last days on memory.
 I will always remember Selmer working hard. When we’d bring our growing family to Grandpa and Grandma Hanson’s he was hospitable even after a long days work. When we were having our children, his first grandchildren, he and Doris were in the throes of working. They were still raising their own family. But I always felt as if they were there for us. Selmer would help us with our garden, our home repairs and any of the other things that he could help with. He also enjoyed our children while his own children were still home.
 Later after he and Doris retired and moved to Wisconsin, he helped us paint our home, he helped Dennis set up a shop in the garage; he helped us till our garden, he helped us build shelving and whatever else we needed that he could help with. For me he made a wall of book shelves and a cupboard. He made me end tables that would match my bedroom set. He made my girls’ hope chests and many other wonderful wood projects that I treasure today. He also enjoyed golf and bowling. I can only imagine how he enjoyed being with his golfing and bowling teams. He was a great bowler apparently and being new to golf after he retired, he fought hard for a good score. He loved the game and enjoyed being out of doors. When he retired, Selmer was there for our family when we needed his help and he always worked hard on our behalf, never expecting anything in return. He enjoyed helping us build our life and our family; it seemed to give him great satisfaction. He was generous with his time and talents. He did this for all of his kids, neighbors, friends and relatives.
 Selmer loved a cookie or bar in the afternoon with his coffee. It often broke up his day of yard or wood working, or clearing snow or gardening. He actually got a bit testy if he didn’t have something available. Selmer loved lemon meringue pie; lemon bars and he loved rhubarb sauce, which Doris made easily and well. I too love rhubarb and lemon pie and now I make it in his honor. He also grew horseradish and made a crazy hot horseradish that he shared. I may even try my hand at planting horseradish… at least I’ll ask Dennis to do so.
 Selmer enjoyed a drive; he enjoyed a visit with friends. He bowled, played horseshoes, golfed, canoed, and shot archery at different points in his life. He really enjoyed the family reunion. We would hear about it for months and the date was blazoned on our minds, as was the picnic meal of fried chicken and dish to pass. We weren’t always able to attend, and we always got the roll call of who was in attendance. He recounted those who came the farthest distance; often his brother Bunny’s kids from the west coast would make his day. His immediate family and extended family gave him great joy. He took great pride in doing his part in keeping the family in touch at least once a year at the reunion.
 In his final years, the early love and tenderness he had for Doris became evident once again. His eyes glimmered when he saw her. In the work of raising a family and making a living, all through life’s stages, they remained a strong force through thick and thin. They experienced an enduring love and care for each other, enjoying the rewards of the life they worked so hard to build.
 It was just a few months into his disease that he and Doris, Doug, Linda and Dennis and I took a drive to Park Rapids to the Threshing Days. It was a great day and the morning after he came into the kitchen and told me he'd like to call a family meeting to talk about his disease. His memory was already fading and things were a bit confused for him and he was well aware of it. This is the first time I'd ever seen Selmer communicate with his family. I thought it touching that he told me he wanted to call a family meeting. I guess he knew I wouldn't shut up until it was done. We all decided that we should have it now while he remembered asking for it, not until all the family could get together in Wisconsin. Not everyone was present, but we could relay anything he said to the others given the circumstances. We gathered outside in our porch and Selmer had the floor. Linda and I were there too, even though we aren't blood. I guess we were family enough after all these years. Selmer told us that he had about 6 month before he wouldn't be able to know anything anymore. He told us his disease is terminal. This from the man who did much self study. He told us to each read the book on his disease that the doctors gave him. He said he gets angry sometimes and doesn't mean to. He doesn't want to hurt anyone. I was touched as were the others that he was being so honest and vulnerable. He said he so often wanted to get his gun and shoot himself, but he couldn't. (Well, Doris hid the bullets long ago). He expressed all this in such a calm way, his frustration and his heart about what we can expect from his illness. He said he knows Doris won't be able to take care of him, he won't like being put in a home, but he knows it will have to happen. He shared his love for his family with these words of honesty. After the family meeting was over, we were saddened, but relieved at the same time. It was the beginning of his end. That Christmas he entered the home in Coon Rapids. He was there a few months and while there, Dennis and I were able to take him out for an afternoon.
 The photos taken here were of our last real outing with Selmer. He was just in the home for a few months and hated it. He always wondered in his confused state when he was going home. I knew he enjoyed gardening and flowers, so we decided to take him on an outing to the St. Paul Conservatory. It was near his birthday and spring was a way off. But he was feeling cooped up. It really was a beautiful day for all.  We started it out with a huge breakfast at Kays Cafe somewhere near Como Park if I recall. Selmer ate a huge Sunday dinner with turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and green beans. He finished it off with a piece of apple pie and ice cream. (At least this is what I recall). We were all full and happy and drove over to the conservatory. Dennis dropped us off and we met to walk around the lovely flowers and greenery. This made Selmer feel right at home. He loved growing things and being outdoors. He could still walk then, and it wasn't a few months later he was confined to a wheel chair. We feel so fortunate that we had this time with him. His mind was not fully there, but glimpses of his personality still shined through. He seemed at peace and enjoyed the outing. We even all had a chance to watch a Sloth move ever so slowly on exhibit in a tree. It was indeed slothful, but moving slowly as it was feeding time.
 Dennis and I both cried together after we dropped him off because we realized that the Selmer we knew, the Selmer we both loved so dearly was already gone and would never be the same. 

This is a beautiful tribute. I am so impressed by Selmer's service during the war, truly a hero.  I can attest to Doris' loving care of Selmer along with the whole family.  Selmer you will be missed but your legacy continues in your beautiful family.