Wesley "Wes" Elden Hanson

Wesley "Wes" E. Hanson, age 90, of Willmar, passed away Saturday, April 23, at Bethesda Grand in Willmar.


A celebration of life service will be held at 11am on Saturday, May 7, at Vinje Lutheran Church.  Interment will be at Cloverleaf Memorial Park Cemetery.  Military honors will be provided by the Willmar American Legion Post #167.  Visitation will be from 5-7pm on Friday, May 6, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church.  Arrangements are entrusted to the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home. www.petersonbrothers.com


Wesley “Wes” Elden Hanson was born on November 3, 1931, in Litchfield, Minnesota, the son of Elvin and Selma (Anderson) Hanson.  He grew up in the Rosendale community and graduated from Grove City High School in 1949.  In 1953, Wes enlisted in the U.S. Army.  While on leave, he was married to Jeanne Audrey Peterson on December 25, 1953, at Arndahl Lutheran Church in rural Grove City.  Following his honorable discharge in 1955, Wes attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis.  In 1957, they moved to Willmar, where Wes purchased Eid’s Refrigeration in 1965, which he owned and operated for over 40 years. In 2005, the business was transitioned to his son, Tim.


Wes was an active member of Vinje Lutheran Church and served on the church council in the mid-1970’s.  He was also a member of the Willmar Rotary Club, Elk’s Lodge, Willmar Hockey Association, Willmar Trap Range and several conservation organizations. 

Wes loved spending time outdoors, trap shooting, riding snowmobile and motorcycle, hunting, fishing, and visiting with people.  He never missed attending any of his children’s school or athletic activities.


He is survived by his four children, Rick (and Deb) Hanson of Kandiyohi, Tim (and Sherry) Hanson of Willmar, Tom Hanson of Willmar, and Kristi (and Brad) Evenson of Roseville; eight grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren, besides other relatives and many friends.


He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne in 2013; a grandson-in-law, Jamie Paurus in 2019; his parents; one brother, Jerry, and two sisters, Jeanette and Charlotte in infancy.