David Hanson, 90, longtime resident of Dodge Center, Minn., passed away February 28 at Prairie Meadows Senior Living in Kasson, MN.
He was born March 6, 1934, in Hutchinson, MN. David spent some of his childhood in Salt Lake City, Utah, where his family lived in a house on the edge of town. He was allowed to raise chickens, and thus began his love of agriculture. He served in the Army for two years and became a member of the American Legion. He then attended Iowa State University and graduated with a bachelor’s in agricultural education. He was a member of Farm House fraternity.
He met his future wife, Ruth Dickerson, at the university. They were married for 65 years until her passing in 2022.
Soon after graduating from Iowa State, David became a University of Minnesota Agricultural Extension agent. He and Ruth moved their young family to Dodge Center in 1966, when David became the Dodge County Extension Director. He served in this position for more than 23 years. Later, he was elected to the Dodge County Board of Commissioners.
He had a great devotion to his family and to the Dodge County community. He ran an apple orchard at his hobby farm near Dodge Center from the 1990s until 2023. He named it Apple Acres Farm, and had as many as 200 apple trees. Apple Acres became a popular Dodge Center amenity and is now being operated by its new owners. He loved to hunt, fish, and ski.
He was a member of the Dodge Center Lions Club for more than 50 years and served on the board of the Dodge County Historical Society. He worked innumerable hours as a volunteer and won many honors. He had a particular interest in the historic towns of Wasioja and Mantorville. He was a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Kasson, attending services there from the 1960s through the week he passed away.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth; two sisters, Adelle and Muriel, and a brother Mark; a daughter Cindy, and a granddaughter Britta.
Survivors include a brother Rod; three sons, Ken, Bob (Wendy), Jim (Barb), and a daughter Deb Achenbach (Rodney); and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 22, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 101 First St. NE, Kasson, MN with Rev. Colin Maltbie officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Dodge Center American Legion at the church following the service. Visitation will be at the church from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, March 21, and one hour prior to the service on Saturday. A private inurnment will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Dodge County Historical Society, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church or the charity of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements are by Dibble Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 213 W. Main St., Kasson MN 55944.
You were the best man anyone could have for a father-in-law, and I enjoyed our fishing and camping outings together. I’m so glad my daughters had you as a grandfather. You will be missed by many.
You and Ruth were a bright light in my life. Thank you for all your smiles, hugs, words of encouragement and fond memories. I’ll always remember meeting you and your family at St. Peter’s back in 1966 and the immediate connection that our church families made with you and yours.
My love and condolences to your family.