Alfred Elmer Hanson

Alfred E. Hanson, a longtime educator, devoted husband and father, talented athlete, and lifelong learner, was born November 25, 1934, in New Maine Township near Newfolden, Minnesota, to Hartvig (a Norwegian Immigrant) and Tena Hanson. He was the twelfth of thirteen children and grew up on the family farm, where he learned the values of hard work, perseverance, and family.

Al graduated from Newfolden High School in 1953, where he played four years of basketball. Years later, at their 50th class reunion, that 1953 championship team was inducted into the Nordic Hall of Fame, a fitting recognition of their accomplishments. His love of basketball continued well beyond high school. Al played two years in the Independent League and was selected to play on the Northern Minnesota All-Star Team. During that time, he had the opportunity to play against the Harlem Globetrotters, scoring eight points in the game. In 2023, the team sent backstage passes so Al could meet the players. They all celebrated him!

Because of a teacher shortage, Al was deferred from military service. However, seven of his brothers served in the military. Al was the only one in his family to graduate from college. He attended Moorhead State College in Moorhead, Minnesota, graduating in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree and earned a Master of Science in Education in 1962. While at Moorhead State, he played for one year on the team and three years of intramural basketball. His intramural team won the school championship one year, and Al placed second in the university's free-throw contest, making an impressive 82 of 100 shots.

On July 29, 1961, Al married Dorothy Peet of Wolverton, Minnesota at Bethel Free Church in Fargo, where they stayed very involved for decades. Together, they made their home in Oakport Township north of Moorhead. Their daughter Jill was born in 1968.

Education became Al's main profession. He taught for a total of 33 years in Fargo, North Dakota, at Ben Franklin, Agassiz, North High, and South High schools. Throughout his teaching career, he shared his knowledge and skills in industrial arts, art, crafts, business education, and drivers training. He also taught furniture upholstery through Fargo-Moorhead Adult Education for 12 years. Al enjoyed tutoring a blind Vietnam veteran for 5 years. He was a master of solving problems and fixing things.

Al's life reflected many of the qualities he valued: Christian faith, dedication to education, a love of learning, a passion for basketball, pride in his rural Minnesota roots, and commitment to his students and family. Whether he was teaching a young person a practical skill, competing on the basketball court, or pursuing another area of knowledge, he approached life with determination and enthusiasm. Al saw the beauty in God’s creation and enjoyed 51 years of fishing and family time at their cabin on Bad Medicine Lake. He and Dorothy enjoyed fishing in the Atlantic, Pacific, Norwegian Sea, and in numerous lakes. They also enjoyed traveling to Europe and Norway, enjoying picnics in the Colorado mountains, and appreciating the beauty of nature. Al spent countless hours over 60 years doing intaglio reverse carvings in plastic, creating intricate roses and other flowers. He enjoyed drawing and sketching when a pencil and paper were nearby.

Al and Dorothy moved to Denver, Colorado in 1997 to be closer to Jill and her daughters. He enjoyed picking up the girls from school and getting dinner started several nights per week. He was so proud of his family. Al became a great grandfather to Walker Alfred Spangler who will turn 1 in November. He especially enjoyed having the entire family together at the cabin all summer.

He will be remembered for his years of service as an educator, his accomplishments as an athlete, his devotion to Dorothy and his family, and the many lives he touched throughout his long life. Al peacefully passed away at home on September 23, 2026, at age 91.

Al is survived by his wife Dorothy, his daughter Jill (Isaac) Penafiel of Centennial, Colorado, his granddaughters Karli (Matthew Spangler) and Kelli Jones of Denver, Colorado, and his great-grandson Walker Spangler. He is also survived by his brother Floyd and sister Clara in Minnesota, as well as dozens of nieces and nephews.

A private family memorial will be held at Bad Medicine Lake in the summer of 2027.