Harold W. Hanson, 80, died Saturday, June 23 2007.
He was visiting his granddaughters in North Carolina, on one last big road trip adventure. Cremation has taken place and a private burial ceremony will be held in Havre at a later date. A celebration of Harold’s life will be held on Thursday at 4 at his son, Hal’s, home. Per “HaWG’s” request, beer and hot dogs will be served for all who wish to attend. Harold (HaWG) was born in Havre on July 7, 1926, to C.L. Hanson and Clara (Gorder) Hanson. He was raised in Rudyard until the time of his father’s death in 1935. He and his mother then moved to Havre and resided there until he graduated from Havre High School in 1944. He was active in the Havre Jr. Rifle Club and was an Eagle Scout. He saw the world from Shanghai to Boston, from Edmonton to Panama courtesy of the U.S. Navy, with which he was a veteran of WWII and the Korean War. After the Navy he earned his bachelor of science degree from Montana State University with a major in industrial arts and a minor in science. In 1964 he earned his master of science in counseling and guidance from Eastern Montana College. He was a teacher in Calgary, Alberta, Rocky Boy, Fort Belknap College, and was a high school guidance counselor for Havre High School from 1966 n 1977. Harold married Jewel (Chatwin) Hanson of Winnipeg, Manitoba on Sept. 8, 1952. They raised their four children, Bobby, Jewel, Penny and Hal in Havre. In 1979, he and his wife moved to Billings, but he continued to register and vote in Havre because Havre was always his home. In earlier years, Harold volunteered his time as a Boy Scout leader and an assistant coach for the Havre Jr. Rifle Club. He also kept busy building homes and working on the family farm until the time of his death. Harold enjoyed playing duplicate bridge, attending his grandchildren’s activities, and loved to learn. He had subscriptions to MIT Journal, Discover, Scientific America, and countless medical journals. He embraced the computer and the Internet, spending countless hours scouring online articles and forwarding ridiculous emails. His most relentless passion and his legacy was the continuation of his mother Clara’s work on documenting the family’s genealogical history. Harold was known for his genuine kindness and generosity. He loved his children and each and every one of his grandchildren dearly. He touched the lives of many people and will truly be missed. Harold was preceded in death by his parents; son, Robert “Bobby” (1961); half-brother, Clifford Hanson (1972); and granddaughter “Baby Jewel” (1988). He is survived by his wife Jewel; his two daughters, Jewel Hanson of Billings and Penelope Hanson of Billings; his son, Hal (Marlys) Hanson of Havre; and his grandchildren, Bradley Svee, Summer (Sunwall) Martin, Michelle Hanson, Douglas Svee, Christopher Svee, Garrett Hanson, Samantha Brouwer and Melissa Svee. Memorials may be sent to the Havre Jr. Rifle Club or the Havre Wrestling Club
