Edward N. Hanson

GRAND MARAIS -- Edward Norris Hanson, 69, Grand Marais, died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2000, at Cook County North Shore Hospital.

He was born June 10, 1931, in Pengry, N.D. to Loretta and Trygve Hanson. He later moved with his family to the Nevis and Park Rapids area. In 1955, he came to Grand Marais with his brother. They owned two sawmills and leased the Standard Station from Maurice Quaife. They operated a John Deere dealership named Hanson's Equipment. In 1961, they moved their business to the location of what is now My Sister's Place restaurant. There, he opened the first Sears catalog retail store. He served on the Public Utilities Commission, the Chamber of Commerce, Lion's Club and retired from the Grand Marais Volunteer Fire Department. He was also a Grand Marais city councilman. He was a retired carpenter and logger.

Survivors include his wife, Dee; two sons, Greg, Lapine, Ore., and Bruce, Grand Marais; a daughter, Denise Mith, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; two stepdaughters, LeAnn Zunker and Linda Freeberg, both of Grand Marais; seven grandchildren; four brothers, Trygve, Grand Marais, Gene, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Hilton, Maple Grove, and Nathan, Park Rapids; and four sisters, Carmen Swanson, Atwater, Geraldine Ricker, Browersville, Norma Heggli, Sacramento, Calif., and Grace Raines, Sacramento, Calif.

His parents, and a son, Eddie, died earlier.

Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Grand Marais. Burial will follow in the Maple Hill Cemetery.

Arrangements are with Willim Funeral Home of Aitkin.