When Edward and Mabel Hansen decided that their third child should be delivered in Battle Creek, MI,  she traveled from ND to Michigan a few weeks before her due date to stay with family there. The baby  boy was born on February 1, 1930. Because they hadn't yet agreed on a name he came back to ND with  "No Name Hansen" printed on his birth certificate. It wasn't until a bit later that he was named Vernon Leroy. Even then, Edward wasn't totally sold on the name, and so he called him "the young one" until he  could adjust to the idea.

Vernon grew up on the family farm south of Bowman with his two older brothers, Maurice and Eugene.  During the Depression years, the family relocated temporarily to Minnesota, where Edward was able to  find work and be close to family. Vernon recalled his father working in the fields with a team of horses  until they were able to buy a tractor. He also spoke about the years they would harvest ice and pack the  ice blocks away in straw. It would later be used for the icebox and the homemade ice cream that would  be churned and enjoyed during the summer months.

Vernon attended high school at Maplewood Academy in Hutchinson, MN, and graduated from there in  1947. It was during his high school years that he met a red-haired girl named Darlene who was destined  to be his wife. They rode their bicycles to meet, they talked across the fence, and letters traveled back  and forth while they were away at school. Although they were quite sure they were meant for each  other, Vernon wanted to be sure that Darlene had considered all of her options. He paid her tuition to  attend Union College in Lincoln, NE her freshman year, hoping she would date around and be certain he  was "the one." He was!

Vernon and Darlene were actually married twice in 1953. The first wedding was in early spring in Beach,  ND, while Darlene recovered from polio, as her doctor felt it would be therapeutic for her. The second  one was in June in Bowman. They teased each other frequently about which day they should celebrate.  Vernon would say, "Our anniversary is in a couple of months" or "We celebrated that already!"

After they married, they farmed north of Rhame, ND for a time. While there, their first-born son, Rocky,  died after a short battle with leukemia just a few days before his 2nd birthday. It was difficult to stay  there after that, so they moved south of Bowman with their infant daughter, Pam. They farmed land in  Minnehaha Township and also near Ladner, SD. Scott was the next addition to the family, followed by  Brad a few years later.

Vernon was a farmer through and through. He loved working the land: not only in the wheat fields, but  the garden. He and Darlene also raised sheep to help them through the lean years when drought or hail  ruined the crops.

Farm life was busy, but he took the time to learn to fly a single engine airplane and earn his private  pilot's license. He enjoyed flying his Cessna 172 and became very adept at landing his plane on the  gravel road that ran by the farm. He also delighted in a good game of Rook. He and Darlene were the  team to beat! Many Saturday nights were spent playing Rook, drinking Dr. Pepper, and eating popcorn.  Simple pleasures!

Vernon was an active member of the Bowman Seventh-day Adventist Church, serving in several  capacities as a leader and a teacher. He also worked on the Minnehaha Township board. But the biggest  service that he provided was a labor of love for his wife. As Darlene became more and more disabled

with post-polio syndrome, Vernon was her caregiver. Much of his time was spent helping her with daily  medical needs and he was very skilled in his assistance.

He loved God and looked forward to being in heaven. He often said, "Jesus is coming soon!" His faith  was strong and was a large part of his life. Because of wonderful helpers, he was able to stay in his own  home despite the toll of Parkinson's. He passed away April 20, 2022, at the age of 92, in the Bismarck  Sanford Hospital after a brief illness. Vernon is survived by his three children: Brad Hansen, Harwood,  ND; Scott (Becky) Hansen, Bowman, ND; and Pam (Tim) Taylor, Brighton Colorado. He enjoyed three  grandsons: Brock (Ashley) Hansen, Harwood, ND; Wyatt Hansen and Truxton Hansen, Bozeman, MT. He  had one great grandchild, Elsie Hansen. The family is planning private graveside services to lay Vernon to  rest. A memorial will be planned later this spring.