(March 25, 2002)
Memorial services are scheduled Wednesday, April 4 at 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Cody for Milford F. Hanson, 82, who died at his Cody home Monday, March 25 after a courageous fight against cancer.
He was born Sept. 19, 1919, in Bison, S.D., to Charles and Hilma Hanson. At a young age, he moved with his family to Spearfish, S.D., where he lived until 1948.
He attended schools in Spearfish and learned the bakery trade in order to put himself through college. He attended Black Hills Teachers College for three and a half years before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1941.
His assignment after boot camp was Pearl Harbor where he taught a "cooks and bakers" school. After two years, he went to sea, serving on the USS White Marsh and the USS Gosper. He saw action at Kerama Bay in Okinawa.
Following his discharge, he returned to Spearfish and worked in the bakery.
In 1946, he married Imogene Bundy. Two sons were born to this union: Milford F. (Butch) Hanson, Jr. and Michael H. Hanson.
In 1957, he moved to Cody and opened a bakery which he operated until the early 1970s. He then went to work for Park County School District 6 as the food service supervisor, a position he held until his retirement in 1991.
He became extremely interested in archaeology in the 1950s, leading to an association with the Wyoming Archaeological Society and the University of Wyoming. He served as state treasurer of the association for many years and was one of the founding members of the Wyoming Archaeological Foundation, also serving as treasurer. The highlight of this interest was the discovery of a Folsom Site (10,700 years old) named the Hanson Site, a trip to France and Spain to tour the caves and the mastery of casting artifacts.
He was a 50 year member of the Masonic Lodge, a member of the Kalif Shrine, lifetime member of the Archaeological Society and the VFW.
Survivors include his wife Imogene Hanson of Cody; two sons, Milford (Butch) Hanson and wife Josephine of Powell and Michael Hanson and wife Rebecca of Cody; four grandsons, Daren Hanson and Brad Hanson and wife Dayna of Sumner, Wash., Casey Hanson of North Dakota and Wesley Hanson and wife Kylie of Cody; a great-grandson, Austin Hanson of Sumner, Wash.; and four grandchildren, Julie Baker of Riverton, Bear and Kate May of Powell and Shad May of Casper. He is also survived by sisters Ardis Klundt of Meadville, Pa., and Carol Jane Johnson of Spearfish; and a brother, Clarence Hanson of Spearfish.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Hilma Hanson; his brothers, Charles, Jr. and Lester Hanson; and his sisters Pearl and Mardie.
Cremation has taken place.