Kenneth J. Hansen

Kenneth J Hansen, age 98 of Litchfield, MN passed peacefully on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at the Meeker Manor in Litchfield.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday February 9, 2024 at the Church of St. Philip in Litchfield, MN.  Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 PM on Thursday at the Church of St. Philip with a 6:30 PM Prayer Service. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at church on Friday.  Interment will be held at the St. Columban Cemetery, rural Litchfield.

Kenneth James Hansen, the son of William and Leonore (Brouillard) Hansen was born in Big Lake, MN on May 8, 1925.  He graduated from Litchfield High School in 1943. He later attended Dunwoody College for Auto Mechanics.  He was united in marriage to Helen Schmeling at St. Columban Church on February 26, 1955.   They eventually settled in rural Litchfield in 1960.  Over the years, he worked at a blacksmith shop, was an auto mechanic and a well driller.   Ken lived a long full life but was a relatively quiet man and most of the time he would sit back and let Helen do most of the talking and storytelling, cracking a smile here and there.   In his earlier years he enjoyed racing a straight 8 Buick.  He was very successful in winning and he always said that the officials kept changing the rules to give others a chance to win.  Ken really enjoyed gun smithing, from carving stocks and building guns for himself and his sons, to shooting competitively at benchrest well into his early 90s.  When shooting benchrest, he never followed the crowd and loved to experiment and try new things, you never knew what he was going to show up with at a match.  For many years, Ken raised chinchillas at their rural Litchfield homestead.  He dedicated a lot of time to raising and breeding premium animals.  

Ken also enjoyed snowmobiling and a variety of game hunting with family and friends.  He even provided a moose roast for his family’s Christmas Eve celebration one year!  He had a very competitive spirit and showed no mercy when playing croquet, Monopoly, or slot car racing with his children.  They always knew who was going to win.  He truly loved being a grandpa and attending the grandchildren’s ballgames, hockey games, dance and church activities with Helen.  He loved to go out to eat, as long as it was for barbeque ribs, a mushroom swiss burger, or especially McDonalds.  He also liked his coffee, ice cream, and sweets.  His family will always cherish the memory of him spending this past Christmas with them, how he enjoyed seeing everyone and he even indulged in two desserts!

Ken is survived by his children Jim (Donna) Hansen of Clearwater, FL, Ann (Mark) Lien of Litchfield, MN, John (Lori) Hansen of Ham Lake, MN, Bob (Kathy) Hansen of Watkins, MN, Nancy (Dick) Bachmeier of East Bethel, MN and Rich (Linda) Hansen of Monticello, MN; 13 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; sister Betty (Art) Stiff of Coon Rapids, MN, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Helen; children Jean Halvorson and Chris Hansen; parents William and Leonore; siblings Lyle Hansen, Bill Hansen, Donny Hansen, Elaine Menzel.