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LTC Wendell Holmes Hanson

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Birth	:	4 Aug 1919 Sioux Falls, Lincoln County, South Dakota, USA
Death	:	15 Jun 2021 Brandon, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	South Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate	:	43.6228800, -96.6776300
Plot	:	Section A1 Columbarium Niche # A23 Inurment 7 July 2021
Description	:	Wendell H. Hanson, 101, passed away June 15, 2021 at Bethany Meadows. Brandon, SD. He was born August 4, 1919, in Sioux Falls to Harry N. and Alice E. (Dorland) Hanson. He was a State Senator, WW II hero, service-minded businessman, philanthropist, man of strong faith. He grew up in the 'roaring twenties' and 'dirty thirties' in Texas and Sioux Falls, graduated from Washington High School and University of Texas where he was President of Alpha Phi Omega and a speaker at an UT event for the Governor of Texas. As a child, 'Wen' and his brother, Ken,... Read More	Wendell H. Hanson, 101, passed away June 15, 2021 at Bethany Meadows. Brandon, SD. He was born August 4, 1919, in Sioux Falls to Harry N. and Alice E. (Dorland) Hanson. He was a State Senator, WW II hero, service-minded businessman, philanthropist, man of strong faith. He grew up in the 'roaring twenties' and 'dirty thirties' in Texas and Sioux Falls, graduated from Washington High School and University of Texas where he was President of Alpha Phi Omega and a speaker at an UT event for the Governor of Texas. As a child, 'Wen' and his brother, Ken, caught Black Widow Spiders on their parents' farm seven miles from Pharr, Texas. For every two they caught, they received a movie ticket. At age six, he was near a tree that was struck by lightning, and he was bedridden for many days. He decided there was a reason God let him survive. Wendell enlisted in the Army Air Force on September 5, 1941 and served in WWII as a B-25 combat bomber pilot in low altitude attack missions from bases in China and India. He was a Flight Leader under General C. L. Chennault 14th Air Force Flying Tigers. Among the medals he was awarded are the Distinguished Flying Cross for distinguishing himself by heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight, the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, two Bronze Stars, and the K'ang Chan-Nien Chang medal from the Republic of China. Wendell was inducted into the Combat Air Section of the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame. After his tour of duty overseas he taught instructor pilots how to teach combat air tactics to pilots. He served in the Air Force Reserve and retired in 1979 as a Lt. Colonel. Wendell co-authored two books on the CBI Theater of World War II. In September of 1944 he flew from up from Texas to recruit for the Air Force at Vermillion High. Prior to speaking with students, he met Helen who was a teacher. They spoke for a few minutes in a school hallway. Without further communication, on January 24th, Wendell sent a letter to Helen asking her to marry him. Helen replied, "I do not even know you well enough to say no." After many months of letters; Helen said, "Yes." On August 11, 1945, Wendell married Helen A. Brumbaugh at First United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls. They lived near Waco, Texas while Wendell taught instructor pilots at Lackland Air Force Base, then to Ann Arbor, Michigan for two years, and returned to Sioux Falls. At 90 years old he flew again in a B-25. While in the pilot's seat on the complimentary flight, the owner and pilot told Wendell, "She's all yours, Sir", and Wendell executed three turns and level flight. When asked how it felt he replied, "The controls are right where I left them." In 1947 brothers Wendell, Kenneth and Harry formed Hanson Realty Company. For 37 years they invested in a wide variety of businesses and real estate throughout the United States and constructed apartment buildings. Wendell was President of the Sioux Falls and of the South Dakota Board of Realtors, and Chairman of the SD Real Estate Commission. Wendell was an active leader in Boy Scouts and was awarded regional and national honors for his services. He served four years in the South Dakota Senate on the Commerce and Taxation committees. On the Select Mining committee he assisted in restructuring one hundred years of South Dakota's mining laws. He was also active in the Sioux Falls community. Wendell was a member of the American Legion, 40 et 8, VFW Life Member, Armed Forces Committee of Chamber of Commerce, Elks Lodge and Life Member of the Downtown Lions Club. For leadership in bringing the USS South Dakota Memorial to fruition, he received an Honorary Admiralship and his name included on the memorials bronze plaque. For dedicated Humanitarian Services he was named a Melvin Jones Fellow. For many years he served as a volunteer at the Veterans Administration Hospital. Helen and Wendell opened their home on a moment's notice and welcomed everyone. They allowed kids' friends to live at their house for months. Out of town church groups were always welcomed. Ball teams in town for a tournament, musicians, military personnel, and even a few parolees stayed in our home. Wendell was an avid reader, loved golf, international and local politics, international travel, pheasant hunting, fishing and camping. He loved playing Bridge and Pitch, played in a national Bridge tournament and at 101 years old he continued to enjoy playing Bridge with 'the ladies' at Bethany. Wendell was faithfully religious and a strong defender of religion. He was an active member of Hope Lutheran Church as President of the congregation and Sunday school teacher. He was also a member of Peace Lutheran Church and Abiding Savior Free Lutheran. Wendell was a frequent and entertaining guest speaker on his experiences in Indo-China as well as presentations on world religious fanaticism and its potential effect on the US. Wendell is survived by the following family who enjoyed sharing his full life: children; Doug (Von) of Newell, SD; Gary (Sandy) of Sioux Falls; Allen (Mary) of Pine River, Minnesota; Martha (Greg) Sewell of Brandon; son-in-law Dave Worth of Eagle River, Alaska; 8 Grandchildren, 13 Great-Grandchildren, sister-in-law Morrise 'Weesie' (JD) Ness of Virginia Beach VA, and many nieces and nephews. Wendell was preceded by Helen, wife of 69 years; their daughter Gail (Dave) Worth; his mother and father; brother Ken and wife Gloria; grandson, Paul H. Muller; granddaughter, Ashley E. Hanson; great-granddaughters, Alexandra Sewell and Elisha Gildner; sisters-in-law: Betty and her husband David Levene, and Mary Brand of Kalamazoo MI; brother-in-law, William 'Bill' Brumbaugh. Celebration of life will be at Abiding Savior Free Lutheran Church 4100 S Bahnson 11 AM, July 30, followed by lunch, 2 pm interment at South Dakota Veterans' Cemetery north of Sioux Falls.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is LTC Wendell Holmes Hanson's memorial?
LTC Wendell Holmes Hanson's memorial is located at: South Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA.
When did LTC Wendell Holmes Hanson death?
LTC Wendell Holmes Hanson death on 15 Jun 2021 in Brandon, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the LTC Wendell Holmes Hanson's memorial?
Latitude: 43.6228800
Longitude: -96.6776300

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Helen Alberta Brumbaugh Hanson

(1917 - 2015)

Siblings

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. South Dakota Veterans Cemetery
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.6228800, -96.6776300

2. Minnehaha County Cemetery
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.6025009, -96.7003021

3. Swedona Covenant Cemetery
Brandon, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.6394100, -96.6311500

4. Saint Michael Catholic Cemetery
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5786018, -96.7117004

5. Berg Cemetery
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.6122017, -96.7514038

6. Peterson Cemetery
Renner, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.6403900, -96.7534300

7. Brandon Cemetery
Brandon, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5877991, -96.5919037

8. Hills of Rest Memorial Park
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5483017, -96.6821976

9. Mount Zion Cemetery
Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5438423, -96.6973495

10. Sons of Israel Cemetery
Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5435410, -96.6966400

11. Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5421982, -96.6988983

12. Dalemoe Cemetery
Crooks, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.6698000, -96.7715600

13. Calvary Episcopal Cathedral Cemetery
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5423000, -96.7279100

14. Split Rock Lutheran Church Cemetery
Garretson, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.6460500, -96.5519000

15. Pioneer Cemetery
Sverdrup Township, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.7050018, -96.7406006

16. Woodlawn Cemetery
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5257988, -96.7133026

17. Bethel Cemetery
Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5872002, -96.8107986

18. East Nidaros Lutheran Cemetery
Baltic, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.7321500, -96.6994100

19. Beaver Valley Lutheran Cemetery
Valley Springs, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5871680, -96.5324020

20. Hokenson Cemetery
East Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5338650, -96.5854450

21. Saint Pauls Cemetery
Garretson, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.7318200, -96.6297480

22. West Nidaros Lutheran Church Cemetery
Crooks, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.7027300, -96.7926200

23. South Beaver Valley Cemetery
Brandon, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5592003, -96.5366974

24. Monson Cemetery
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5146970, -96.5990070