Donald Leroy Hansen Sr.'s Obituary
Donald Leroy Hansen Sr, 94, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma passed from this life on March 4, 2023. Donald was born on October 4, 1928 in Aberdeen, South Dakota to Carl Martin Hansen, of Gem Township, South Dakota and Nettena Victoria Peterson, of Renville, Minnesota. Donald married his wife Nedra on January 15, 1978.
Donald was a World War II Veteran, enlisting in the Navy at age 16. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Petroleum Geology from University of Tulsa and his Masters in Geology from University of Minnesota. He had a distinguished career in the oil and gas industry for 50 plus years beginning with Sinclair Oil and ending as Mid-Continent Manager with Davis Oil Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Donald used retirement to reinvent himself. He and Nedra traveled extensively, RV’ing through all fifty states. They also took a few international trips, highlighted by a visit to both of his grandfathers’ homesteads in Norway.
Donald’s true passion was farming. One of his great successes is “Thunderbird Berry Farm” involving the family and serving the community. More importantly, it provides a teaching experience for his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Donald is survived by his wife Nedra Keller Hansen, and children Vicki Hansen Karney (and husband Kip), Cheryl Kay Leavitt, Donald Leroy Hansen Jr (and wife Jocelyn), Carl Douglas Hansen (and wife Valle), one sister, Norma Jean Schlekeway (and husband Gene), 13 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren, many friends and loved ones. Donald is preceded in death by his brother Howard, sisters Eleanor, Pearl, Helen, and Alice, and his stepson Martin.
Donald was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.
“We are all travelers in this world from birth til death, we travel between the eternities.”
An Open House Celebration of Life will be held this Saturday, March 11, 2023 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Glass Veranda venue at Forest Ridge, 7501 E. Kenosha St., Broken Arrow, OK 74014.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to your favorite charity.
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