Robert “Bob” Hansen of Philip, South Dakota, died on Friday, May 24, 2024 at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip at the age of 81.
A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at Rush Funeral Home in Philip.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at the American Legion in Philip with Pastors Cindy Bisser and Harold Delbridge officiating.
Interment with military honors will follow at the Masonic Cemetery in Philip.
Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Philip.
Robert “Bob” Hansen was born on September 15, 1942, to Wallace “Bud” and Marie (Plasschaert) Hansen in Philip. Bob was the seventh child in a family of nine, one sister and one brother came later, and grew up on the Hansen Ranch.
Bob went to grade school at the Empire School, 27 miles northeast of Philip. Bob then went on and attended high school in Philip where he met the love of his life, LaVonne Knutson from Grindstone, South Dakota.
Bob and LaVonne were married on June 2, 1963, at the First Lutheran Church in Philip.
Bob loved ranching and lived on the home ranch until September 14, 1966, when he was drafted into the US Army. He attended Basic Training at Ft. Bliss, Texas and then on to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. At Christmas LaVonne joined him in Aberdeen. In April 1967 they moved to Ft. Carson, Colorado where Bob became the Chief Wheel and Track Inspector. Bob took his job in the Army very seriously and on August 3rd he was promoted to Specialist 5th Class. He was honorably discharged from the Army on September 14, 1968, and was then employed by the Howes Grazing Association for nine years.
In the spring of 1977 Bob and LaVonne purchased the Howes Store which they ran for the next 40 years. After selling the Howes Store and moving to Philip, Bob started a wood shop where he made lamps, dressers, tables, cedar chests and other items. He also repaired furniture and other wood products.
Bob served on the Plainview Fire Department for 44 years, he served on the Board of Directors of Golden West for 24 years, and he custom hayed for 20 years. Bob raised cattle, horses, and buffalo for 44 years. He and LaVonne are members of the First Lutheran Church.
Bob and LaVonne adopted Angela Marie and Todd Allen as infants. They were the joy of their lives and still are.
Survivors include his wife, LaVonne; children, Angie (Richard) Holso and Todd Hansen (Julie Jones); grandchildren, Walt, Hailey, Tripp, Andrea, Aliya and Brittany; great granddaughter, Brooklyn; sisters, Charlene “Chuckie” Reed and Paula Poss; sister-in-law, Sandy Hansen; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Bud and Marie; brothers, Richard “Zip”, Gene, Darryl, and Jack Hansen; sisters, Arlys Neville and Shirley Raue; sisters-in-law, Donna and Taeko Hansen; brothers-in-law, Bob Neville, Fritz Raue, Bill Poss and Sonny Reed.
A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at Rush Funeral Home in Philip.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at the American Legion in Philip with Pastors Cindy Bisser and Harold Delbridge officiating.
Interment with military honors will follow at the Masonic Cemetery in Philip.
Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Philip.
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