Merle Hanson

Merle Hanson, age 91 of Litchfield, passed away on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield. A memorial service for Merle will be held on Monday, October 28, 2024 at 2:00PM at First Lutheran Church in Litchfield. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be held in Ripley Cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by the Litchfield Military Honor Guard.

Merle Arthur Hanson, son of Arthur and Alice (Madson) Hanson, was born on February 14, 1933 at the Litchfield Hospital, Litchfield, Minnesota. He was baptized on April 1, 1956 and confirmed in 1947 at Arndahl Lutheran Church. 

Merle attended Longfellow School in Litchfield and enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard during his junior year at Litchfield High School. His parents had to sign a permission slip for him to enlist. His unit was called to active duty in December 1950, so he missed his graduation ceremony with the LHS Class of 1951. After finishing his enlistment commitment, he worked as a salesman for the Anderson Chemical Company for five years. On August 11, 1956 Merle was united in marriage at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church to Shirley Risch, also of Litchfield.

As Merle’s wife and primary advisor, Shirley gave her consent for Merle to reenter the Army in 1961. Over the course of his career, he served in every rank from buck private to full colonel. He was ordered to Vietnam twice, from 1965 to 1966 and again from 1968 to 1969. He was able to make Shirley’s dream of moving to Germany come true when he received orders there twice. The Hansons lived in Mannheim from 1970 to 1973, in Frankfurt from 1976 to 1978, and in Nuremberg from 1978 to 1979. Merle retired from the Army in 1980 and moved back to Litchfield.

Merle and Shirley were avid travelers. They owned 5 different RVs and traveled to every corner of the US. They visited every continent except Australia and Antarctica.

Merle and Shirley raised three children: daughter Mickey Speck, son Rick Hanson and daughter Kelley Hanson. Merle was bothered by the large number of schools his children attended because of his changes of station, and the two years of separation from his family.

Merle and Shirley followed their daughters to California in 1985, moving to San Diego. They spent the bulk of their retirement in Colorado Springs, Colorado, living there for 28 years. Upon Shirley’s passing in 2019, Merle relocated to Emmaus Place in Litchfield. He thought it ironic that his final home was in the same building in which he was born.

Merle is predeceased by his parents and brothers A. Wayman Hanson and DeLoy Hansen. He is survived by his children Mickey Speck (Douglas Speck) of Barboursville, Virginia, Rick Hanson (Sharon) of Granite Falls, Minnesota, and Kelley Hanson of Richmond, Virginia; and grandchildren Megan (Brian) Gorres, Reid (Taylor) Hanson, Natalie Speck, Olivia (Scott) Silva, Julianne Speck, Laurel Speck, Jillian Blumberg and Kayla Blumberg; and great-grandchildren Jaden Gorres, Lane Wohlman, Mason Gorres and baby-to-be Hanson.

In leu of flowers memorials are preferred to Disabled American Veterans (DAV).