Richard Ronald Hanson

Richard Ronald "Dick" Hanson, 71, of Terreton, passed away at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Friday, December 23, 2016. Dick was born August 3, 1945 in Paterson, New Jersey to Theodore Roosevelt Hanson, Sr. and Nellie Mae Hunt Hanson. He spent several years in his childhood and adolescence living with his aunt and uncle Dolly and Lester Hunt. He attended schools in the Pompton Lakes area, graduating from High School in Newton, New Jersey. He then attended Barrington College in Barrington, Rhode Island graduating with a BS in education. He received his Master's degree in education from the University of Maine, in Orono, Maine. Dick received a Purple Heart after the loss of his right arm while serving in the Infantry in the United States Army in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967. After his return to Barrington College he met Nancy Alice Holman. They married on July 29, 1972 in Westerly, Rhode Island. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Washington D.C. LDS temple in February 1975. Dick worked as a Guidance Counselor in Swanzey and Chesterfield, New Hampshire and in Glenn's Ferry and Terreton, Idaho. He also spent several years working for the V.A. in Cranston, Rhode Island and Provo, Utah as a counselor for Vietnam veterans. Before retiring in 2011, he was a Principal at West Jefferson High School and Terreton Elementary in Terreton, Idaho. He also spent time coaching sports, mainly basketball, at the schools where he served as Guidance Counselor. You will remember Dick as a man who loved to tell a joke, tackled any DIY project, always had a garden, loved hiking and being active, and was dedicated to pursuing his love of writing both non-fiction and poetry. He was an active member of the LDS church and was currently serving a mission at the Idaho Falls Family History Center. He is survived by his wife Nancy Hanson of Terreton, Idaho; two daughters, Heather Y. (Eric) McLeskey of Gilbert, Arizona and Molly J. (Eric) Hansen of Springville, Utah; two sons, Jason A. Hanson of Richmond, Virginia and Peter J. (Kari) Hanson of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; a sister Shirley of New Jersey; three brothers, Theodore R (Betty) Hanson, Jr., Donald Hanson, and Robert (Joyce) Hanson, all of New Jersey; and ten grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Erik S. Hanson, a brother Larry Hanson, and three sisters, Betty, Marjorie, and Marie. Funeral services will be held Friday, December 30th 2016 at 11:00 am at the Terreton LDS Stake Center. There will be a viewing Friday morning from 9:30 to 10:45 am at the Stake Center. Burial will be in the West Jefferson Cemetery under the direction of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.