Darrell Lee Hanson was born on November 5, 1942, in Hooker, Oklahoma. He was the oldest son of Franklin and Lula (Smith) Hanson. Darrell proudly graduated with the Class of 1960 at Hooker High School. While a student he worked on the family dairy farm. During his time in FFA and under the guidance of Evan Eggleston, Darrell won the National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO in 1960. He won with a Grand Champion Barrow. After graduation he attended both Oklahoma State University and Panhandle State University.

Darrell became a regional manager at Gibson’s Retail Stores in Kansas, Colorado, and eventually settled in Billings, Montana. While in Montana, he enjoyed visiting the Grand Teton Mountains and Yellowstone National Park. A highlight during this time was when he was able to take his dad on a fishing trip to Canada. Many great memories were made on that adventure!

One of the wonderful traits about Darrell was that he was a man of many interests. He loved listening to classical music and operas, but especially cherished his videos of Andre Rieu. Darrell knew almost every Western movie ever made and became very knowledgeable in Astronomy. Time spent out on the farm looking into his telescope was an event not to be missed.

He returned to the panhandle to care for his mother and worked for Texas County District 1. He was a frequent participant in family game nights whenever Skip Bo, Uno, Apples to Apples, and Sorry were played. Darrell rarely lost much to the frustration of his nieces. Bailee was a frequent visitor to his house where they watched movies and ate Darrell’s famous “Chicken Vala”. He enjoyed the outdoors and would often take the family dogs out on a walk around the farm. He eventually caved and got a house cat that he adored, named Tuffy. No other cat has ever been as spoiled.

Darrell is preceded in death by his parents and nephew, Andy Hanson. He is survived by his brother, Doug Hanson and his wife Linda of Hooker; three nieces, Amy Hanson of Edmond, Oklahoma, Angela Hanson of Moore, Oklahoma, and Bailee Hanson, currently a Criminal Justice/Forensics Science student at the University of Central Oklahoma. He is also survived by his loving extended family, Janet and Kevin Denney of Guymon, Oklahoma as well as Justin, Jessica, and Carson Dinneen of Haysville, Kansas.

A graveside service in Darrell’s memory will be held at a future date. Memorials are suggested to the Hooker Ambulance Fund or the Hooker Cemetery Fund. These may be sent to Roberts Brothers Funeral Home, Box 745, Hooker, Ok, 73945.