Vernon "Vern" L. Hanson

Vernon Hanson, Sioux Pioneer, Dies at Age 86

Vernon L. Hanson, 86, a pioneer of Harrison community, died at the Chadron Community Hospital Friday, Oct. 25, after a brief illness.

He was born at Oakland, Nebr., April 13, 1882, the son of Robert M. Hanson and Mary E. Hanson. The Hanson family moved to western Nebraska in November of 1885 and settled in the Crawford community.

Vernon and his sister Anna graduated from the Crawford high school in 1902. While attending school for two years he worked for R. D. Richards in the drug store, studying pharmacy at night. In 1903 he worked for Dr. J. E. Phinney in his drug store at Harrison and in February 1904 he passed the examination for state board and became a registered pharmacist. He also became registered in the states of Montana and Wyoming and in 1907 purchased the Harrison drug store operating it until 1915. In 1909 he opened the Hanson Drug Store in Marsland, Nebr.

Finding the drug business too confining, he began ranching as a sideline and after his marriage to Mildred C. Warnecke in 1910 he devoted his entire time to ranching. Both had proved up on Kinkaid homesteads which were the start of the ranch that he operated until his retirement in 1967. After leaving the ranch he made his home in Harrison with his grandson, Darold Abel, and family.

Mr. and Mrs. Hanson were the parents of three children, Wendell, Verna, and Edna Mae. Wendell died in 1928 and Mrs. Hanson in 1954.

He was affiliated with the Odd Fellow Lodge 318 of Harrison and had the honor of being the only one to receive the 50 year membership. He was a registered pharmacist for 50 years and served 30 years on the Board of Regents of Sioux County High School. Mr. Hanson was a firm believer in qualified teachers and good schools.

Surviving are his daughters and their husbands, Mr. and Mrs. Frank G. Boggs of Santa Monica, Calif., and Mr. and Mrs. D. P. Hamilton of Moscow, Idaho; his sisters, Mrs. Edna Whitefield of Crawford, Nebr., and Mrs. Anna Woody of Thermopolis, Wyo; eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Services were held at the Memorial United Methodist Church in Harrison on Sunday. Interment was in the Harrison Cemetery. The Rev. J. Lee Gorman and the Rev. Harvey Johnson officiated.

Here from out of town for the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. D. P. Hamilton, Moscow, Idaho; Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Boggs, Santa Monica, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Abel and Shane, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Mrs. Jack Hytrek and Kristi, Elgin, Nebr.; Bryce Abel, Lincoln, Nebr.; Mrs. Edna Whitfield, Mrs. Revilo McDerby, Mr. and Mrs. Orvil Fox, Ruth Forbes, Mrs. Steve Haseke, Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Grigg, all of Crawford; Mr. and Mrs. Marty Seegrist and family, Caputa, S. Dak.; Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Rone and family, Casper, Wyo.; Mrs. Check Wasserburger, Edgemont, S. Dak.; Mr. and Mrs. Jim Fox, and Mrs. And Mrs. Don Beason, Chadron; Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Heckert, Douglas, Wyo.; Mrs. Clara Tibbits, Lusk, Wyo.; Earl Martin, Glenrock, Wyo.; Mrs. H. C. Johnson, Scottsbluff. Nebr.

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