Minot, ND. On July 30, 2020, after a brief illness of pneumonia, he passed away with his wife, Randi Lou,
by his side near his home in Maricopa, Arizona.
Fred grew up in Minot, ND the oldest of three boys who shared a love of music. Having learned to play
several instruments, his focus was the bass fiddle which he enjoyed playing in “The Bunny Hanson
Band”—a group orchestrated by his younger brother. In later years, the band—reduced to a
trio—regularly played at The Missouri Club of Williston.
Shortly after graduating from Minot Model High School in 1943, with WWII still ongoing Fred enlisted in
the Army Air Corps and commenced flight training at Randolph, Texas. Fred was commissioned as a 2 nd
Lieutenant and flew for the Air Transport Command until the end of the war. Upon completion of his
military service, he attended Minot State University, eventually obtaining a degree in business at the
University of Colorado, Denver.
In 1947, Fred married his college sweetheart Grace Evenson, who later perished in a car accident in
1973. From this union came five children resulting in eleven grandchildren, twenty-one
great-grandchildren, and nine great-great grandchildren. He was blessed to have known all but the most
recent Great-Great-Grandchild born in June of 2020.
Fred was fortunate to find another great love in life, Randi Lou Haugjorde, with whom he married and
celebrated 45 years of marriage on February 1 st , 2020.
A natural people-person, Fred began his career selling vacuum cleaners for Sears. In 1958, he joined his
brother managing Hanson Furniture in Williston. His charisma landed him a job as a news reporter with
KUMV-TV. Following that, he spent the ensuing 25 years as head of Williston’s branch of Minot Federal
Savings, which eventually became Midwest Federal Savings and Loan.
Upon his retirement, he put his marketing talents to use, joining with Randi Lou’s business, World
Travel, preparing print ads and writing and starring in TV and radio commercials. As part of their
business, Fred and Randi Lou hosted multiple tours around the world, enjoying cruising and
international travel over the next 40 years.
Fred was active in the Williston community, participating in JC’s, Kiwanis, and the Elks for whom he
served as Exalted Ruler. He was also a member of First Lutheran Church.
Fred loved boating, sailing, parasailing, and waterskiing—teaching four of his five kids to waterski on
Trenton Lake near Williston. His enjoyment of water sports spanned most of his life—his last time on
skis was in his early 80’s.
In 1972 that love led to the creation and development on Lake Sakakawea of “Paradise Point” a
forty-acre plot of land that he and two friends purchased and subdivided into lots for a lake retreat area.
Eventually this became a community of 35 families, where homeowners included his mother, one
daughter, and a grandson. Later in life, Fred and Randi Lou spent their summers in Paradise Point and
winters in Maricopa, Arizona this became their permanent home in 2012.
Fred was a true jack-of-all-trades working on electrical, plumbing, and carpentry projects—with a special
appreciation for fine woodworking. His passion in later years was a strategy game he designed and
crafted called “Tees-for-Two”, thousands of which were donated to military personnel.
Preceding Fred in death were his Parents, wife Grace, brother Bernard (Bunny) Hanson, brother-in-law
Gerry (Karen) Haugjorde, granddaughter Jennifer Hanson, and great-granddaughter Anne White.
He is survived by his wife, Randi Lou; brother, Daryl ( Jan) Hanson; his children: Pamela (Jack) White;
Steven Hanson; Paula ( Harvey) Lewis; Stanton ( Joyce) Hanson; Penelope (Gary) DesPois; mother-in-law,
June Haugjorde; brother & sister-in-law Jan & Dale Lerbakken;
11-Grandchildren, 21-Great-Grandchildren, 9-Great-Great Grandchildren, and many Nieces, and
Nephews.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be planned for a later date.
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