Neils Henrick Hanson

Former Niobrara Legislator-Rancher Dies in Virginia

Henrick Hanson, 80, former state representative and state senator from Niobrara County, died Saturday at his home in Hampton, VA. following a lengthy illness. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon from the Peninsula Funeral Home, Newport News, Va. With Rev. Joseph L. Stone, pastor of the Aldersgate Methodist Church, officiating. Burial was made in Peninsula Memorial Park Cemetery, Warwick, Va. Masonic graveside rites were accorded.

Neils Henrick Hanson was born in Mayfield Utah August 22, 1876. He homesteaded in the Cheyenne River area of northern Niobrara County in 1907. He married Miss Roxie Freel in 1908. They were the parents of three children: Floyd of Casper, Mrs. Leslie ZumBrunnen of Lusk, and Glenn who lives on the home ranch. Mrs. Hanson died in 1936 and he married Mrs. Ardelle McQuillan in 1939.

Henrick, a graduate of BYU of Provo, Utah was principal of Alpine School before coming to Wyoming as foreman of a large land and sheep company.

He was state sheep inspector from 1910-1912 and was Niobrara's representative in the state legislature from 1936-1940. He was elected to the state senate in 1940 and in 1941 resigned that position in order to move to Vaughn, Mont. to make his home. He moved to Virginia in 1956.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Newcastle, a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Shrine at Helena, Mont.

Survivors include his wife; three children; two brothers, Dean and Andrew Hanson of Great Falls, Mont., and one sister, Mrs. Marie Marx, Denver.

Mrs. ZumBrunnen and Glenn Hanson returned to Lusk Saturday after having spent the past week with their father. They received the message of his death upon their return.

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