Perry Hansen

Perry Allen Hansen, 73, Bismarck, died August 12, 2008, surrounded by family and friends at Medcenter One Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, August 18, at Faith Lutheran Church, corner of Avenue C and 14th Street, Bismarck. Burial will be at high noon at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery with military honors provided by VFW Post #1326 of Bismarck. Visitation will be Sunday from 2:00 – 9:00 PM at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, and will continue Monday one hour prior to the service at the church. Perry was born on March 3, 1935, at Richfield UT, the youngest of three children of Emil and Ila Elder Hansen. Emil Hansen passed away when Perry was four years old. Ila married Frank Lee and raised Perry and his sisters, Betty and Jean. Frank was a coal miner in the state of Utah. Perry attended elementary school through eighth grade. At a very young age, Perry struck out on his own. He made a living doing odd jobs by day and performing music by night. After years of odd jobs, Perry joined the United States Navy at the age of 17. Ila Hansen-Lee, at a point in Perry’s early life, offered Perry either a bicycle or a guitar. Perry chose a guitar, an omen of Perry’s destiny in the country music field. Perry played by ear guitar, steel guitar, and bass, with steel guitar being his very favorite. Music was always Perry’s first love. Even though he loved the military, music was his first choice. Benefits for those in need were Perry’s favorite place to donate his talent. He would always use his talent to help various organizations reach their financial goals. Perry was in communications for the US Navy, serving in Japan and Hawaii. Perry served for eight years with the US Navy. During his military career, Perry married Marlys Rivenes in 1957. To this marriage, three children were born; Steve on January 25, 1960, Julie on January 24, 1961, and Andra on July 26, 1962. For stability for his family, Perry chose to change his military career to the US Air Force. His duty station was Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska. He finished his four years of active duty there. He was honorably discharged on September 20, 1965, capping a 12-year military career. Perry married Betty Lou Walter on July 12, 1974, in the Santa Claus House at North Pole, AK. After their marriage, they moved to Valley City, ND, where Perry worked as a mechanic at Miller Motors and played steel guitar with Orville Hieb and the Music Makers. In the mid 70s, the Music Makers became Orville Hieb and his Gospel Odyssey. This band traveled the upper Midwest and Canada. October 1975 brought the Hansen family back to Alaska. Perry worked as a mechanic at The Auto Craft Shop and as a fork lift mechanic at Fort Wainwright, AK. Music took a back seat to the mechanic world. After retiring in Alaska with 45 years of combined government service, the year of 2000 brought the Hansen family back to Bismarck, ND. Perry took up music almost fulltime and became a stay-at-home Dad for his four-legged children, Missy and Nikki. Perry took great pride in his house and yard, spending many hours on construction of the patio and his flowers. He was active in the VFW, Moose Lodge, Elks 1199, Bismarck Musicians Union, and Mason Fairbanks Lodge #12. Perry is survived by his wife of 34 years, Betty of Bismarck, ND; his son, Steve of Fargo, ND; his daughter, Andra Hansen of New Rockford, ND; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; his sister, Betty Prettyman of Utah; and his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Julie Rohde; his father, Emil Hansen; his mother and step-father, Frank and Ila Lee; and his sister, Jean Wardell.

Perry Hansen

March 3, 1935 - August 12, 2008