64654_Terry Ray_Hansen
Terry Ray Hansen, 68, died of injuries suffered in a plane crash on November 29, 2013, near St. Mary~s, Alaska. He was born in Mason City, Iowa, on August 3, 1945, to Ray and Irene (Olsen) Hansen of Clear Lake, Iowa. Terry grew up in Clear Lake and attended school there through High School. During his Senior year he enlisted in the U.S. Navy with the understanding that he would not be called up until after graduation. He served 4 tours of duty in Viet Nam. His destroyer was bumped once by a Russian vessel which stirred up an exciting incident with planes from both sides circling overhead, but ended peaceably.
After his discharge, he returned to Clear Lake and attended North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City and then went on to the University of Northern Iowa for accounting. He later worked for Erv Senesky, CPA in Mason City.
In 1977, he moved to Montana. He and Joe Basirico co-owned a whitewater rafting company in West Glacier. He later joined the maintenance staff at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish, Mt., and worked there for several years until he completed flying lessons in Kalispell, Mt. After that he was off and flying, doing what he really enjoyed. He took parachutists up at Lost Prairie, rafters into Schaffer Meadows and lead retardant bombers into wildfires. In 1995 he took a job with Hageland Aviation of ERA Alaska as a bush pilot out of St. Mary~s, Alaska. He also flew out of Bethel, Alaska, for a few years but transferred back to St. Mary~s so he could be home nights.
Terry was a quiet man with the unique ability of being able to retain information for years at a time. He was blessed with a photographic memory. He seldom had to do homework as a youngster because of that. He loved to tease and was generous to his family and friends. He loved and was loved.
He was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents; his father Ray Hansen; Uncle Biff (Clifford) and Aunt Lindy (Lois) Hansen and cousins Kathy Marnet Hansen and Kevin Hansen.
His father Ray and Uncle Biff were brothers and his mother Irene and Aunt Lindy were sisters so all the children of both families were “double cousins.”
Survivors include: his longtime partner, Joanne Long of St. Mary~s, Alaska; his mother Irene Hansen of Whitefish, Mt.; brother Tom Hansen and Carol of Kalispell, Mt.; sister Christie and Mark Grattidge of Clear Lake, Iowa; Aunt Janice and Keith Bowman of Des Moines, Iowa; cousins Vance and David Hansen of Clear Lake, Susan DeVary of Des Moines, Scott Bowman and Tracy of Johnston, Iowa, and numerous second cousins.
A memorial service will be Saturday, Dec. 14, at 1 p.m. at the Whitefish VFW.