Imogene J. Hanson

Posted

(Dec. 28, 2005)

Imogene J. Hanson of Cody died Wednesday, Dec. 28 at West Park Hospital in Cody.

She was born Nov. 10, 1925, to Howard and Margaret Bundy in Gillette. She attended grade school at the Bundy rural school outside of Gillette and graduated from Campbell County High School in Gillette. She attended nurses training at St. John’s McNamara School of Nursing in Rapid City, S.D. She graduated and passed her boards to become a Registered Nurse in 1945.

On June 30, 1946, she married Milford F. Hanson. They had two sons, Milford Jr. (Butch) and Michael.

Imogene spent the next 44 years practicing nursing in numerous capacities in various locations. She served as a nurse in Cody, Lovell, Gillette, Moorcroft and Newcastle in Wyoming, in Deadwood and Spearfish in South Dakota and in Pasco, Wash. Her positions included assistant director of nursing and in-service director. In the in-service director position, she received specialized training in the operation and interpretation of results from the EKG machine.

She went on to train other hospital physicians and nurses on the use of the machine as part of a greater effort to establish an intensive care unit at the hospital. Toward the end of her career, she served as a consultant to area medical facilities and eventually worked on the Lovell Hospital nursing home project. She participated in this project from writing certificates of need and grant applications through the operations phase, eventually becoming the director of nursing.

She spent many days and miles enjoying the outdoors with her husband and friends and family, traveling and artifact hunting. Milford and Imogene’s archaeological interest led them to become involved with the Wyoming Archaeological Society and the University of Wyoming. Their greatest discovery was the Hanson Folsom site, a 10,700-year-old site located near the base of the Big Horn Mountains. The Hanson site is the largest known Folsom site in the world.

In addition to her archaeological interests, Imogene was a member of Eastern Star, and in the last couple of years, an enthusiastic member and participant in the Cody Square Dance Club, Kut ‘n Capers. Throughout the years she enjoyed bowling and playing cards.

In their retirement years, the Hanson's enjoyed their snowbird retreat to Scottsdale, Ariz., where they enjoyed meeting other snowbirds from around the country.

Survivors include her sons, Milford Jr. “Butch” Hanson (Jo) of Powell and Michael (Becky) Hanson of Cody; grandchildren Brad (Dayna) Hanson of Buckley, Wash., Daren Hanson of Powell, Casey (Bridgit) Hanson of Billings, Mont., Wesley (Kylie) Hanson of Cody, Katie May of Casper, Bear May of Powell, Shad May of Casper and Julie (Cory) Baker of Powell; great-grandsons Austin and Alex Hanson of Buckley, Wash.; and great-granddaughters K’Lee Ann and Lance Baker of Powell; sisters Dorothy Smith of Albuquerque, N.M., Carol Lee Sigrist of Newport News, Va., and Mildred Huravitch of Gillete; and a brother, Walter Bundy of Gillette.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Milford; and her parents.

Cremation and services have taken place. For those who wish, the family would appreciate donations to a charity of choice.

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