Frank Hanson

Frank Hanson, 80, Niobrara Pioneer, Dies Here Friday

Frank Hanson, 80, a pioneer of Niobrara County, died at the Spencer Hospital Friday, May 11, of infirmities of advanced age. Final services were held at the Peet Chapel Sunday afternoon at 2:30 with Rev. Frank Schweissing of the First Baptist Church of Lusk officiating.

Mrs. H.J. Templeton accompanied Mrs. Edna DeCastro, Donald Housh and Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Froke, who sang "Rock of Ages" and "We Are Going Down the Valley."

Pallbearers were: Dudley Fields, Albert DeGering, Edwin Pfister. Henry McGinnis, Gaylord Anderson and A. F. DeCastro.

Frank Hanson was born June 15, 1870, in Illinois. He was the youngest of 12 children whose parents had emigrated from Norway. As was customary among Norwegian emigrants at that time they changed their family hame upon arrival in America. Herman and Julia Ruhe abandoned their surname and adopted the name of Hanson.

Three weeks after the birth of the youngest child the Hanson family moved to the vicinity of Tekamah, Nebr. They were very poor and as soon as they were able to work the children left home. When he was about 12 years old Frank began staying at the farm of his brother-in-law, James Olinger. It was while he was there that he received a few months of schooling during winters when farm work was least urgent.

At the age of 15 he followed his older brother, Oliver, to eastern Wyoming riding Union Pacific freight trains and walking. In 1886 he arrived in Lusk and was given a job by John Kendrick who was running the OW Ranch. From that time until be was married Frank was employed as a cowpuncher by various cow outfits between here and the Canadian line in Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota. He worked for OW, LX, MC, U+ and Fiddleback. At one time he was in charge of OW beef herds enroute to shipping points.

HOMESTEADS NEAR NODE
In 1902 Frank homesteaded near his brother's ranch at Node and and quit range work for the larger outfits.

In 1905 he married Mrs. Catharine Dorsey and moved to a point about 20 miles north of Lusk near the mouth of Young Woman Creek, at which place he lived until 1944 when he moved into Lusk.

He was preceded in death by his wife who died in June of 1949. He leaves two children, Miss Sadie Hanson of Lusk, Dan Hanson of Hat Creek, three grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Hanson lived during times when hardship and hard work were commonplace. He lived a strenuous constructive life. While entirely unpretentious and unassuming he was possessed of determination and great courage. He was direct and outspoken and patient and kind.

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