Lee Orril Hanson, age 89, of Garretson, SD, passed away on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the CLC Hospice Care at the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center. Memorial services will begin at 10:30 AM Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church, Garretson. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 PM Friday, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Garretson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Zion Lutheran Church Building Fund, Garretson American Legion, or the Garretson Museum.
Lee was born on December 23, 1935, to William and Hilda (Kjenstad) Hanson in Hendricks, Minnesota. He served in the United States Army from 1955-56. Lee met Judy Ericksen at Luther League and they married on June 19, 1960, in Toronto, South Dakota. They lived and farmed near Brandt until 1964 when they moved to a farm by Garretson. They farmed west of Garretson until moving to another farm south of Jasper. They continued to farm until 1984 and finally moved into Garretson in 1986. Lee continued to work at various jobs until he retired at age of 86.
Lee was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, The Garretson American Legion, and the Garretson Area Historical Society. He enjoyed square dancing and spending time with family, friends, and neighbors.
Lee is lovingly remembered by his wife of nearly 65 years, Judy; daughter, Nila Lorenzen, Luverne; sons, Clair Hanson, McCook, Nebraska, and Todd (Patti Larsen) Hanson, Jasper, Minnesota; grandchildren: Ryan Hanson, Joshua Hanson, Sydney Hanson, Katie Lorenzen, Stacy Domeyer, Jordan Lorenzen, Nathan Lorenzen, Christian Hanson, Ben Hanson, Megan Larsen, and McKayla Larsen; great grandchildren: Natalie, Allison, Ashtyn, Samara, Miles, Mason, Torrence, Teagen, Nora, Edith, Hudson, Stella, Lily, Carter, Adelynn, Brynlee, Walker, Kade, and Luke; sister, Dorothy Griffin, Akron, Ohio, brothers-in-law, Harold (Diane) Ericksen, Paul (Roxanne) Ericksen, Donald (Lola) Ericksen, and David (Su) Ericksen; sisters-in-law, Betty (Darwood) Sanberg and Delores Schutte; and many other relatives and friends.
Lee was preceded in death by his parents, William and Hilda Hanson, infant brother Clair, parents-in-law, Hans Christian and Hilda Ericksen, sister-in-law Marilyn Hobbs, brother-in-law, Palmer Ericksen, niece, Rebecca Griffin, nephew Brett Sanberg, and many other relatives and friends.
