ORVILLE HANSON, Obituary

GILDFORD/PORTLAND, Ore. Orville C. Hanson, 89, retired postmaster, farmer, and insurance agent, died Sunday, Oct. 13, 2002, at an adult family home in Everett, Wash., of natural causes.

Funeral service is 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Gildford Baptist Church with Pastor Eddie Fallo officiating. Committal rite will be at the Gildford Cemetery. Fellowship

at the church will follow the committal rite. Visitation and viewing will be Sunday from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. at the Holland and Bonine Funeral Chapel in Havre and again Monday at 9:15 a.m. at the church.

Orville was born Jan. 4, 1913, to Levi and Nellie (Hanson) Hanson on their homestead nine miles north of Gildford. He was educated in the Gildford Country School and graduated from Gildford High School in 1931. He attended Northern Montana College in Havre in 1934.

On July 12, 1936, Orville married Ruth E. Bailey in the home of Maud Bailey, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. To this union, three children were born.

Orville was the Gildford postmaster from 1936 to 1969, barber in Gildford from 1935 to the late 1940s or early 1950s, and a farmer in Gildford from 1938 until the early 1970s, when he leased out the farmland He also was owner of the Orville C. Hanson Insurance Agency from 1952 until he partnered with "Snookie" Reuben Sande Jr. and changed the name to Sande-Hanson Insurance Agency. In 1969 he sold his share to his partner, "Snooky" Sande Jr. He also was the owner and operator of the Gildford Hotel with his wife, Ruth, from roughly 1948 to 1969.

Orville was dedicated to his parents, brother, sisters, wife, children, grandchildren, as well as his extended family members. At retirement, he spent one legislative session in Helena. He also worked with the Salvation Army ministry, and the Prison Fellowship ministry. He was a Boy Scout leader in the 1930s. He was an active member of Gildford Baptist Church until his retirement, serving as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and encourager. He supported and worked with the Gideon International Ministry. He was active in the state and national League of Postmasters.

In 1989, Orville and Ruth moved to Lynnwood, Wash., to be closer to their children.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Levi and Nellie (Hanson) Hanson; wife, Ruth E. (Bailey) Hanson, on Oct. 16, 2000; brother, Murvin J. Hanson; sister, Lillian Jensen; and son, Orville Dwight Hanson.

Survivors include his sister, Nora Sanvik of Mesa, Ariz.; daughters, Shane Arlene Jacobs and Bonnie R. Hanson, both of Lynnwood, Wash.; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Gildford Baptist Church, 800 3rd Ave., Gildford, MT 59525, or The Gideon International, P.O. Box 724, Havre, MT 59501.

Services and arrangements are under the direction of the Holland and Bonine Funeral Home.