C. Arthur Hanson, 85

On Monday, Sept. 1, Art Hanson passed away at home after a short battle with cancer.

Born Conrad Arthur Hanson on May 29, 1940, to James and Veronica Hanson, he joined a brother, James Jr. and a sister, Shirlee, on the family farm in the Stillwater community Northwest of Kalispell. The family attended Stillwater Lutheran Church where he was baptized and confirmed.

He attended Sparks, a one-room schoolhouse. While attending school the students were taught to dance. Due to learning how to dance at an early age, it became a life-long passion. He enjoyed attending community dances, dancing at weddings, the Eagles and the Elks. 

As a youngster he was a member of Stillwater Beavers 4-H club where he participated in various projects.  

He attended Flathead County High School where he became a member of Flathead FFA, wrestled and played intramural basketball.

During his senior year of high school, his dad became ill and taking care of the farm fell on him and his mom. Upon graduation, he took over the family farm. Throughout the years he leased many other farms in the area. Eventually he purchased another farm in Kila.

While farming was his main source of income, he always had a truck or two that he would hire out with, hauling cattle, equipment, lumber, grain, or Christmas trees. Winters found him logging with his dad, or on his own close to home after his dad’s passing. He also drove Intermountain Bus for his father-in-law.

In June of 1961 Art married his high school sweetheart Dorothy Hagen. Together they worked the farm and raised four daughters. They later divorced.

Art was very involved in his community and felt a person should step up and help if there was a need. He was involved with the NW Community Center Board of Directors, Farmers Union, Stillwater Grange, Stillwater Lutheran Church, where he served as chairman of the board, also a Leader for Stillwater Beavers and B & F Livestock 4-H clubs. He was one of twelve charter members that started the West Valley Volunteer Fire Department where he served for over 25 years. He was the last surviving charter member. He was also a member of the Eagles, Elks, and Moose Lodge over the years.

Everyone that knew Art, knew how much he loved a good auction sale, this earned him the nickname of Auctionitis Art from his oldest granddaughter, she also taught him how to bid in online auctions.

He grew up with horses and always had a couple around so he could check fences, work cows, or take trips into the back country.

He always dreamed of having a dry land wheat farm on the east side of the state. At 65 years old he turned his dream into reality when he purchased land on the Hi-line. He continued to farm until he was 75 years old, when he leased his land to a neighboring farmer. After retiring he still continued to attend auctions and buy equipment. He always smiled and said, "You never know when you might need it."

He enjoyed travelling seeing a lot of the U.S. while trucking and later from a motor home. Day trips around the state and to the farm and back were also frequent.

Visits to local cafes became a daily routine, where he enjoyed visiting with people from all walks of life and teasing the waitresses.

Art was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Lorraine Hanson.

He is survived by his brother, Jim Hanson and sister, Shirlee Hachman-Chatterton, daughters, Sandy Evenson (Greg), Linnette Thorp, and Connie Evenson (Todd), eleven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and family members.

A memorial will be held Saturday, Sept. 13 at Darlington Cremation and Burial Service, 3408 US Hwy 2 E, Kalispell at 1 p.m., with a reception to follow at Sykes Diner, 202 Second Ave. W.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to West Valley or Joplin Volunteer Fire Department, your local 4-H program or FFA chapter, or non-profit of your choice.