Clayton Hanson
September 1, 1926 — February 21, 2015
Clayton Wesley Hanson was born on September 1, 1926, in Granite Falls, the son of Hubert and Alpha Hanson. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith in Granite Falls Lutheran Church.
After graduating from high school, Clayton entered the United States Navy. He proudly served his country during WWII and received his honorable discharge in 1946. He returned to Granite Falls and on April 10, 1949, Clayton was united in marriage to Orla Voss at Peace Lutheran Church in Echo, MN. To this union, one daughter was born- Sandra Lee. They lived in the Granite Falls – Wood Lake area until September of 1993, when they retired to Mesa, AZ. Since his retirement, Clayton and Orla divided their time between Mesa and Granite Falls.
Clayton was in the plumbing and heating business all of his life and was proud of his Master Plumber’s License. In April of 2014, Clayton and Orla celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
Clayton was a member of the Wood Lake Fire Department, the Wood Lake American Legion, as well as a past commander, and served on the Wood Lake City Council. He also served on both the Granite Falls Hospital Board and the Granite Falls Lutheran Church Council. Clayton was a proud veteran and had been a member of the American Legion for 69 years.
Clayton will be remembered for his love of helping people, whether it be a plumbing problem, furnace problem or lending a hand with a floor tiling project. He had a big smile and a strong handshake. He was a devoted husband and father and was so proud of his two granddaughters and loved those three great-grandkids. He enjoyed spending time at the lake cabin and taking rides in the pontoon. Clayton made many friends during his lifetime and always was up for a game of buck. He was called from this life while under the loving care of the staff of Banner Baywood Hospital in Mesa, AZ. He was 88 years of age.
Surviving Clayton are his wife Orla; his daughter Sandy Drager (& fiance Phil Kruger) of Chaska; granddaughters- Dawn (& David) Francis of Prescott, WI and Shawna (& David) Darville of Monticello; 3 great grandchildren- Danielle & Dylan Francis and Jade Darville; his brother Robert (& Doreen) Hanson of Wood Lake; his sisters Charlotte (& Paul) Peterson of St. Louis Park, Alice (& Richard) Friedman of Bella Vista, Ark.; step-sister Lois (& Alton) Anderson of Inver Grove Heights; his special friend- Melissa Schulte; nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his son-in-law Dale Drager.
After graduating from high school, Clayton entered the United States Navy. He proudly served his country during WWII and received his honorable discharge in 1946. He returned to Granite Falls and on April 10, 1949, Clayton was united in marriage to Orla Voss at Peace Lutheran Church in Echo, MN. To this union, one daughter was born- Sandra Lee. They lived in the Granite Falls – Wood Lake area until September of 1993, when they retired to Mesa, AZ. Since his retirement, Clayton and Orla divided their time between Mesa and Granite Falls.
Clayton was in the plumbing and heating business all of his life and was proud of his Master Plumber’s License. In April of 2014, Clayton and Orla celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
Clayton was a member of the Wood Lake Fire Department, the Wood Lake American Legion, as well as a past commander, and served on the Wood Lake City Council. He also served on both the Granite Falls Hospital Board and the Granite Falls Lutheran Church Council. Clayton was a proud veteran and had been a member of the American Legion for 69 years.
Clayton will be remembered for his love of helping people, whether it be a plumbing problem, furnace problem or lending a hand with a floor tiling project. He had a big smile and a strong handshake. He was a devoted husband and father and was so proud of his two granddaughters and loved those three great-grandkids. He enjoyed spending time at the lake cabin and taking rides in the pontoon. Clayton made many friends during his lifetime and always was up for a game of buck. He was called from this life while under the loving care of the staff of Banner Baywood Hospital in Mesa, AZ. He was 88 years of age.
Surviving Clayton are his wife Orla; his daughter Sandy Drager (& fiance Phil Kruger) of Chaska; granddaughters- Dawn (& David) Francis of Prescott, WI and Shawna (& David) Darville of Monticello; 3 great grandchildren- Danielle & Dylan Francis and Jade Darville; his brother Robert (& Doreen) Hanson of Wood Lake; his sisters Charlotte (& Paul) Peterson of St. Louis Park, Alice (& Richard) Friedman of Bella Vista, Ark.; step-sister Lois (& Alton) Anderson of Inver Grove Heights; his special friend- Melissa Schulte; nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his son-in-law Dale Drager.
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