William "Bill" Hansen

It is with great sorrow the family of Bill Hansen announce his passing on Friday, August 19, 2022 in Yorkton, SK.  

William James Hansen (Bill) was born March 14, 1938 at Theodore Saskatchewan, the son of William and
Bertha Hansen (Hasper). He was the fourth boy on the family farm, and was raised like all farm kids
then, knowing how to work. That's not saying there wasn't time for other things, such as exploring the
creeks with his trusty mustang horse Scotty, being the drummer in the family dance band, and playing
junior hockey as defenceman, travelling as far as Colorado to play.
When his father died unexpectedly of an asthma attack, he entered the work force at 15 years of age as
a truck driver first for McCann construction, building roads, then later followed his brothers to the
oilfields, drilling and later in production. A car accident put Bill in the Theodore Hospital where he met
Joan Hansen, a freshly graduated Lab and X-ray Technologist working at the hospital. They married in
1963, had one son James in 1964. Bill worked closer to home, as a trucker for Canadian Pacific Transport
and later as an owner/operator of Hansen Trucking, as well as grain farming across the road from his
father-in-law John Zimmer at Ebenezer.
Vacation time in summer was always precious to Bill, and camping in the mountains with his family for
at least 2 weeks or more in summer was never missed. This led to a trip up the Alaska Highway in 1975
that was a life changing experience. Gold . A stop to visit Ivan Daunt at his placer mining show on
Bonanza Creek led to staking a claim on Fox Gulch, and eventually to mining every summer (and a few
times into winter) for the next decade or so. If a variety of experience brings wisdom, there was wisdom
to be had aplenty. Eventually the workload between Farm, Business and Placer mining was too great so
the mine had to go, but man, it was fun. But camping time with family was special, to just spend
uninterrupted time together, to Bill was precious. Through 6 years of cancer treatments and various
other health issues Bill just wanted to go back to the campground beside the river at Yahk B.C. with
Joan.
Bill worked for a time as property manager at Whitespruce but continued to farm with his son James
until his health did not allow it. Accomplishment and a job well done was always a source of joy for Bill
and working with his son was always an adventure. He always brought a get it done attitude and joy to
work. He often said, "If you don't enjoy what you are doing, you are doing the wrong thing, do
something else."
Bill is predeceased by his mother and father William and Bertha Hansen, and his brothers Waldemar,
Clifford, and Gerald. He leaves to mourn his wife of 59 years Joan, son James and daughter-in-law Sheila
Grunert, Granddaughters Emily and Elizabeth Hansen, and many friends and extended family that have
known this dynamic man through the years.

A private family service will be held.  

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