Ernest M. 'Ernie' Hanson, 102

Ernest M. "Ernie" Hanson, 102, died Monday, Nov. 21, 2005, at Brendan House in Kalispell. He was born Aug. 27, 1903, at Veblen, S.D., to Christian and Dorothy (Lee) Hanson.

He was one of 14 children. At the age of 11, Ernie and his family moved to the Flathead Valley and settled on a farm at Echo Lake. Ernie attended school at the Swan River School as well as Flathead County High School. During his early years in the Flathead, he worked as a sand monkey for loggers in the area along with any other job to help the family.

On July 18, 1935, he and Belva M. Campbell were married. After their marriage they lived at the home place at Echo Lake. During this time Ernie worked for the State Forestry Department, and their son, "Skip," was born.

During World War II, Belva and Ernie spent two years on Desert Mountain Lookout and two years at Java Ranger Station, where Ernie served as fire-control officer. During the latter years of the war, the family moved to Longview, Wash., where Ernie worked in the aluminum industry. After the war, the family returned to the Flathead Valley.

The family moved to Kalispell for a short time, then to Coram for 17 years, where Ernie worked for the U.S. Forest Service. Ernie worked on building many trails in the Big River drainage and the Jewel Basin area. Ernie was the fire-control officer at the Coram Ranger Station for several years.

After leaving the Forest Service, Ernie worked as a carpenter on Hungry Horse Dam and the construction of the Anaconda Aluminum Plant in Columbia Falls. After the completion of the plant, Ernie and Belva moved to Great Falls, where he worked on the missile sites that were being built in eastern Montana and the bridges that were a part of the Interstate Highway System in eastern Montana.

Ernie retired in Great Falls in 1969, returning to the Flathead Valley in 1974.

During his retirement years, Ernie spent much of his time turning out many pieces of furniture for family and friends.

Ernie and Belva enjoyed many years of vacation travels in their motor home. Fishing on the Pacific Ocean coast was a favorite place to go. One of Ernie's favorite memories was the day he won the daily fishing derby for the biggest ling cod caught at West Port, Wash.

Ernie was preceded in death by his parents, and his brothers and sisters.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Belva Hanson, of Kalispell; and one son, Skip Hanson, and wife, Marie, of Columbia Falls; four grandsons, Hal Hanson, Steve Hanson and wife, Kim, Neil Hanson and wife, Sandy, and Chris Hanson and wife, Liz; also 11 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Ernest M. "Ernie" Hanson will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 28, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Kalispell, with Pastor Larry Stappler officiating. Burial will be afterward in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls. There will be no visitation.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Ernie's family.