Harley "Dick" Richard Hanson

Harley R. “Dick” Hanson United States Army World War II Veteran Scotia, Nebraska Resident Harley Richard “Dick” Hanson, 88 of Scotia, NE, died Thursday, December 6, 2012, at the Grand Island Veteran’s Hospital in Grand Island. Visitation will be December 10, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Govier Funeral Home in Broken Bow. Funeral services will be December 11, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the Oconto Community Building in Oconto with Pastor Jonathan Musgraves officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in the Oconto Community Cemetery. The Oconto Methodist Ladies following burial will serve lunch at the Oconto Community Building. Memorials maybe made to the Shiners or Grand Island Veterans Hospital Hospice Unit. Dick was born May 24, 1924, in Custer County on the family farm near Oconto to Harley Edgar and Daisy (Donelson) Hanson. He attended Lower Lodi School for grade school and rode his bike to Oconto to attend Oconto High School graduating in 1941. He entered the United States Army on June 22, 1943 serving in France during World War II with the 103rd Infantry Division and was honorably discharged on February 10, 1946. He received the Purple Heart Medal. Dick became a rural mail carrier in Oconto when he returned from the Army in 1946 until his retirement in 1973. It was while delivering mail that he met the love of his life, Ollie Nielsen, the rural schoolteacher at Tuckerville School. They were married July 10, 1949 at Ollie’s parent’s home in Litchfield. They celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary this year. Dick was a pioneer recycler. He tore down multiple buildings in Custer County using the materials to build two homes and many outbuildings. He also farmed during this time. Their union was blessed with four children Judy, Jane, Richard and Harley Dean. Dick was active in the Oconto community as a member of the Masons, Shriners, American Legion Oconto Volunteer Fire Department and the United Methodist Church. He enjoyed auctions adding to his collections of cars, coins, stamps, antiques and tools. Ollie and Dick retired to Scotia and lived at their lake home on Duck Inn Lake. They enjoyed gardening, fishing and visiting with their children and grandchildren. They wintered at their cabin in Texas for many years. While in Texas they enjoyed square dancing and attending jamborees. Survivors include his wife, Ollie; children and their families, Judy Domina of Elkhorn and her children Thurston and Emily Domina, Salesia Domina and Niels Domina; Richard and Susie Hanson of Scotia and their children Heather and Chad Slump, Ramsey and Laura Hanson, Brandon Hanson, Haley Hanson, Kerby Hanson and Keegan Hanson; Harley and Sue Hanson of Scotia and their children Paul and Sadie Hagemeir, Korie and Scott Beaty and Brody and Carrisa Hanson; Thirteen great grandchildren with a great granddaughter on the way; two sisters Laura and Doug Wilcox, Mildred and Ted Wilson and sister-in-law Marjorie Hanson; a host of nieces and nephews; Caregiver and friend Dorothy Gregg. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harley Hanson and Daisy (Donelson) Hanson, daughter Jane, sister Evelyn Jennings, brothers Robert and James.