Ranald Hansen

On June 3, 2013 in Omaha, NE, Ranald "Ras" Hansen surrounded by his prides and joys, telling stories and showering him with love peacefully and gracefully took Jesus's hand and entered into rest. Ras was a man who loved spending time with his family above anything else. But if he wasn't bragging about his girls or his grandkids, he was probably cheering for the St.Louis Cardinals, following Democrat politics, building away on woodworking projects in his shop, reading The Des Moines Register, or having coffee in downtown Elk Horn. Ras loved Lake Okoboji. He started taking his girls there when they were kids and passed the tradition on to his grandkids, spending weeks each summer with them camping and swimming at Gull Point State Park. He had hoped to make it to Okoboji one more time this summer. Ras was born August 6, 1925 in Shelby County to Peter V. Hansen and Marie Ingerslev Hansen. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church. He graduated from Elk Horn High School in 1943 and served in the U.S. Army from October 1943 - May 1946. On August 30, 1947, he eloped with his sweetheart Betty Gude Hansen. Through almost 66 years of marriage, they laughed, bickered like couples do, and made a wonderful life for themselves and a family that followed. Ras loved business and working at Landmand's National Bank in Kimballton, operating his own Ras's Food Market in Elk Horn, clerking at the Kimballton Sale Barn, and working at Audubon State Bank for several years before retiring. He continued to run his own income tax business for many years and loved to keep up with his clients meeting with them in his home. Ras was dedicated to his community serving on the T-Bone Committee in Audubon, the Elk Horn City Council, the Marne Elk Horn Telephone Company Board, and the Better Elk Horn Club where he was treasurer for 23 years. He also was a member of the Elk Horn Lutheran Church and Our Saviors Lutheran Church where he served on both of the church councils. Ras's loved ones who have passed before him include his parents; his brothers Ralph Hansen and Herb Hansen; sister Thelma Lange; brothers-in-law Jerry Gude and Ted Lange, sisters-in-law Alice Hansen and Evelyn Hansen; and father and mother-in-law Elmer and Dagny Gude. Ras's wife Betty Hansen survives him along with his daughters (often called by him as his Board of Directors) Jo Christofferson and Connie (Bob) Doonan. The second loves of his life, his six grandkids will miss him terribly: Matthew (Megan) Christofferson; Brooke Christofferson; Scotty Christofferson (Jennifer Meckes); Carrie (Pat) Nepple; Katie (Jason) Hoffman; and Kyle Doonan. Nine great-grandchildren swarmed Grandpa Ras giving him the biggest smiles and high fives: Gabriel, Carsten, Elle, Griffin, and Mae Christofferson; Caden and Brynn Nepple; and Lillie and Ian Hoffman. Also surviving Ras are his brother-in-law Arnold (Doris) Gude and sister-in-law Donna Gude. Come join Ras's family to remember their Dad and Grandpa by telling stories at a visitation on Thursday, June 6, 2013 from 5-7 pm at Ohde Funeral Home in Kimballton. Services to celebrate Ras will be held on Friday, June 7, 20014 at 10:30 am at Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn with interment following. Memorial gifts will be given to GiGi's Playhouse (gigisplayhouse.org/desmoines) a Down Syndrome awareness center in Des Moines which holds special meaning to Ras. Visitation THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013, 5 - 7 P.M. OHDE FUNERAL HOME KIMBALLTON, IOWA Funeral Service FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 2013, 10:30 A.M. ELK HORN LUTHERAN CHURCH ELK HORN, IOWA PASTOR KEITH MENTER, OFFICIATING Music "BORNING CRY" - VOCALIST, TOM POTTS "IN THE GARDEN" "ON EAGLE'S WINGS" NANCY WATSON, ORGANIST YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE - GREAT GRANDCHILDREN "TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME" Casket Bearers MATTHEW CHRISTOFFERSON BROOKE CHRISTOFFERSON SCOTTY CHRISTOFFERSON CARRIE NEPPLE KATIE HOFFMAN KYLE DOONAN Interment with Military Honors AMERICAN LEGION POST #322 ELK HORN LUTHERAN CEMETERY ELK HORN, IOWA