Paul Osburn Hansen was born February 27, 1923 in Bismarck, North Dakota to Reverend Harold “Chi” Hansen and Ellen (Peterson) Hansen. He spent his first few years of life in Washburn, North Dakota before the family moved to Milaca, Minnesota. He graduated from Milaca High School in 1941.
Upon graduating from high school he went to work for Bell Telephone Company in northern Minnesota as a lineman. He was recruited by the FBI and moved to Washington, DC as an Assistant Laboratory Aide in the Sound and Electric Division. Paul was always proud to say that he was on a “first name” basis with Director John Edgar Hoover. One of Paul’s responsibilities was to check for wire tapping in Hoover’s office and personal residence. Paul resigned from the FBI September 30, 1942 after being drafted into the United States Navy. Paul was an Aviation Ordinanceman Second Class and served much of his Navy time in California and the island of Saipan in the South Pacific. He was Honorably Discharged from the US Navy, February 19, 1946.
Paul attended and graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 1949. Paul and Rosalie Dahle met while attending Luther College. On June 18, 1948, they were married in Decorah, Iowa. Paul and Rosalie Hansen gave birth to three children; Paula, Kathy, and John.
Paul had various jobs in Iowa and Wisconsin before moving to Fargo, North Dakota where he was employed with Gunkelman Seed and Chemical Company. They later moved to White Bear Lake, Minnesota where he worked for Chipman Chemical Company. In 1967 he ended his career as a seed and chemical salesman and formed the company, Aaro Films. He filmed and produced three major motion movies titled “North American Safari “68”, “Wilderness Calling” and “Trail to Alaska”. After fulfilling his dream of producing these movies, he then formed his own seed and chemical business, AgCom. Paul later co-founded and was the Executive Director of MAFLAS “Minnesota Association of Farmers Landowners and Sportsmen”. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources hired Paul to a newly created position, the Citizen Participation Coordinator (Ombudsman). Paul retired after nine years with the Department. Throughout his life he enjoyed the “great outdoors” and his many friends.
In 2003 Paul and Rosalie moved to Mitchell, South Dakota where they lived at Countryside Living and were members of Resurrection Lutheran Church where their son, John is the Pastor. Paul enjoyed his time in Mitchell meeting and making new friends, going on hunting trips with his son, John, and spending time and money at Cabelas.
He is survived by his wife, Rosalie of Mitchell, SD; his daughter Kathryn Courtney and husband, Jeff of Newaygo, MI; his son, John L. Hansen and wife, Vicki of Mitchell, SD; five grandchildren: Rachael, Jennifer, Joshua, Elissa, and Kelsey; five great-grandchildren: Katherine, Jeffery, Abigail, Victoria, and Logan, his sister, Marian Majerle of Milaca, MN; his sister-in-law, Phyllis Paulson of Wausau, WI, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Paul was preceded in death by his daughter, Paula Jean Hansen Asmus, his parents, his brother, Reverend Philip Hansen and wife, Shirley; brother-in-law, Vernon “Bud” Paulson; and brother-in-law Rudy Majerle.
A Memorial Fund has been established to the Resurrection Lutheran Church.
