David Seetin Hanson

He was born on December 27, 1938, in St. Paul, and graduated from Central High School in 1956. He received a Master of Science and enrolled in a doctoral program in Physics at the University of Minnesota. At the University, he met his beloved wife, Catherine and they were married on February 1st, 1962.

David had a long and successful engineering career in a changing industry, including at Control Data and United Defense. His work brought him opportunities to be involved in the earliest days of computing, to work internationally, and ultimately to aerospace engineering. This work was a great fit for his sharp intellect, and ever-curious, problem solving mind. David was a fun-loving father and grandfather, whose love of swimming, sailing, canoeing and knowledge of forestry taught his family to appreciate the outdoors. His animated readings of Dr. Seuss and other classics gave his children a love of reading. He appreciated a wide range of music and was a patron of the arts. He cared deeply about his family and cherished a good bowl of vanilla bean ice cream. Whenever he went out, he was well-recognized in his trademark fedora hat. In retirement, he enjoyed winters in Sarasota, FL and traveled to all seven continents with his wife, Catherine.

David was preceded in death by his parents, Donald Norin Hanson and Eva Seetin Hanson, his sister Catherine Eva, and his granddaughter, Eva Catherine Simpson. He is survived by his wife, Catherine Harrison Hanson; children, Elizabeth Decourt (Dan Simpson), Mark Hanson (Lisa Hanson), and Eileen Hanson (Ed Krall); and grandchildren, William Decourt, Matthew Hanson, Julian Simpson, and Ryan Hanson.

Funeral services are planned for 2 pm on Saturday, May 30 2026, at Sunset Kapala-Glodek Funeral Home, 2250 St Anthony Boulevard NE, Minneapolis. Visitation one hour prior to the service. Memorials can be directed to the Science Museum of Minnesota or Waverly Gardens.