Philip Charles Hanson, 79

Philip Charles Hanson died Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011, at the family home with his wife, Sue, by his side. Phil was 79 years of age and passed after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Phil was born to Adriel (Woodward) and Percy Dunham Hanson on Nov. 19, 1932, in Susanville, Calif.

He moved with his family in 1944 to Missoula where his father was regional forester for the U.S. Forest Service. Phil loved growing up in Montana and enjoyed hunting, fishing and alpine skiing as a youth. He graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in forestry.

During summers, Phil was a smoke jumper out of McCall, Idaho. After graduation, he joined the United States Air Force and always appreciated being able to fly a jet airplane.

In 1955, Phil married Bonnye McFarland and joined her father in the farming industry in Coolidge, Ariz. After their divorce in 1977, Phil married Susan (Rhoades) Frazier.

In 1985, Phil sold the farm and moved to Bigfork, where he could fulfill his dream of hunting and fishing at leisure. He also enjoyed gardening, golf and kept himself busy in winter months building fine furniture in his wood shop. His family and many friends enriched his life to the fullest.

His mother, Adriel, father, "Pete" and oldest son, Stuart, preceded Phil in death.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Sue, at the family home in Bigfork; son, Mark Hanson, of Denver; daughter-in-law, Mary Hanson, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; stepsons, Tad Frazier of Bigfork, and Steven Frazier and wife Julie of Casa Grande, Ariz.; sisters, Karen Mill of Juneau, Alaska, and Janet Ewings of Port Angeles, Wash.; two grandchildren, Adam Hanson and Lindsey Hanson; and nephews, Ken Mill and Alan Mill of Juneau, and Jody Stone of Camp Verde, Ariz. Nieces, Cristin Walker of Juneau, Cathy Lorenz of Wayne, Ill., Connie Cermak of Bigfork, and April Crimmins of Casa Grande also survive him.

At Phil's request, a celebration of life will take place in the summer of 2012 when the roses are blooming.

If his friends would like to remember him to a charity, please consider the Bigfork Fire Department and QRU, 800 Grand Drive, Bigfork, MT 59911; Ferndale Fire Department, 100 Ferndale Drive, Bigfork, MT 59911; or Wounded Warriors, https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Philip's family. You are invited to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Philip's tribute wall, offer condolences and share memoriaes.