Henry Carl Hanssen's Obituary
Henry Hanssen, 100, Ellendale, North Dakota, formerly of Dickinson, North Dakota died peacefully, Friday, July 9, 2021 at Benedictine Living Community-Ellendale where he has lived for the past three years.
Henry was born June 4, 1921 in Manning, in Dunn County, North Dakota, the son of John and Amelia (Steffen) Hanssen. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Dickinson, ND. He married Ethel M. Hansen on September 8, 1946. Henry and Ethel were blessed with six children, and ten grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.
He served in the United States Air Force from October, 1946 to October, 1949. He graduated from the University of North Dakota with a B. S. in commerce in 1954. That fall, he moved his family to Dallas, TX and began his career with the General Accounting Office. In July of 1970, he successfully completed requirements to be a certified public accountant. After retiring from the General
Accounting Office in 1982, he was involved in several ministries as a volunteer. He and Ethel spent several months working in Papua New Guinea with Wycliffe Bible Translators: Henry using his ability as an auditor and Ethel, hers with a daycare. Henry also served with Laborers for Christ including a church addition project in Utah. Henry had several hobbies: rock hunting, photography, woodworking projects, stamp collecting, and learning how to use a computer – for information, correspondence, and later for such games as Cribbage and Solitaire.
Henry and Ethel moved back to Dickinson, ND in November, 1993, to be available to help with family (Ethel’s sister and Henry’s sisters). Ethel preceded him in death, in April, 2008.
Henry loved God – and sought to live his life as a servant of God. He led family devotions when children were young, and he was a faithful member of Bethel Lutheran Church while in Dallas, then a member at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Dickinson, ND, and most recently a member of Zion Lutheran, Ellendale. Reading God’s Word, daily prayer, and attending weekly worship services were important parts of his life.
Henry is survived by his children: Grace (Richard) Schrage, Judith, Paul (Miskey), and Laura (Mark) Carlson, and daughters-in-law, Carol and Beth. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, one brother, Clarence, and one sister-in-law, Frieda Hanssen. In addition to his wife, Ethel, he was preceded in death by his parents, sons, John, and David, granddaughter, Sarah Rachelle, an infant grandson, Jonathan, and brothers, Peter, Fred, Louie, and sisters, Clara, and Kay.
Visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, July 23, at Restland, 13005 Greenville Ave., Dallas, Texas, 75243. Because of COVID restrictions, the funeral and graveside services will be for
family only and will be on July 24 at the Wildwood Chapel with the Rev. Randall Haedge officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested for Zion Lutheran Church, 121 2nd St. S, Ellendale, North Dakota, 58436 or for Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center, St. Louis, MO 63141.
The family would like to thank the staff at Benedictine Living Communities-Ellendale for their loving care for Henry for the last three years.
Those who are unable to attend the service in person may access the service via the following Live Streaming link:
http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/57418/hash:31DFA6284FAD3C01
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