Percy John Hansen, 89
Percy John Hansen, 89
Percy was born at the Hansen homestead southwest of Lisco, Nebraska, on December 23, 1936, to Mildred W. (Anderson)and Peter J. Hansen. He was the first son following four girls.Two more boys and a girl followed to complete their family. In 1937, Percy was baptized at Weyerts Immanual Lutheran Church and was confirmed as an 8th grader at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bridgeport.They lived in rural Morrill County until approximately 1944, when Peter moved the family to Bridgeport so they could attend “town school.”
When Percy was 15 years old, his father died and he took on the “father role” to his younger siblings, and he and his brothers took over the homestead and cattle, forming the Hansen Brothers Ranch.
The story he told the family was he informed his brothers it was time to get out of the sand box and get to work. Percy loved the cattle and ranch.
On June 28, 1960, Percy married Marlys Stevens in Hot Springs, South Dakota.They celebrated 66 blessed years living in Morrill County.To this union, 4 children were born.
In 2019, the Hansen family celebrated receiving the Nebraska Pioneer Farm Award from the Knights of Aksarben for the land being in the Hansen family for 100 years. It was a special time for the family to gather.
Percy was a lifelong member of Messiah Lutheran Church, a volunteer fireman with the Broadwater Fire Department, and served on the board of the rural fire department.
Percy is survived by his wife, Marlys Hansen; children Phil (Anne) Hansen of Longmont, CO, Chris (Joe) McNurlin of Gurley, NE, Todd Hansen of Broadwater, NE, and Marcy (Mike) Spooner of Glendale, AZ; grandchildren: Laura (Ryan) Narjes, Erin (Mason) Allen, Amber (Nathan) Horn, Kyle Hansen, Melanie Hansen, and Nicholas (Jealynn) Spooner; great-grandchildren: Weston and Leanna Narjes, Aleah and Emilia Allen, Finnegan and Percy Horn, and Peyton Spooner; sister Thelma(Dave) Smith of Lone Tree, Iowa; many nieces and nephews and even more great-nieces and -nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Hilda (Bob) Mull, Pearl (Carl) Jacobson, Elna (Eugene) Miller, and Lela (Thomas) Olmstead; brothers George (Donna) Hansen and Sam Hansen; and nieces Mary Mull, Betsy Mangel and Diane Hansen.