Richard "Dick" Dennis Hansen

Richard “Dick” Dennis Hansen, 69, passed away on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Richard was born Oct. 23, 1946 in Sandpoint, Idaho the son of Henry Melvin and Ella Marie Hansen. He attended the Deaf and Blind School in Gooding, Idaho from 1st through 10th grade where he loved wrestling and doing woodworking, making cedar chests and knife holders as gifts for his family. It was very difficult for him to be away from his family at such a young age. Dick was a hard worker who pulled green chain at the Colburn Mill and at Riley Creek. He also worked at Panhandle Milling. He joined the army and was sent to Viet Nam. After his honorable discharge he lived in California for a short time until his father became ill and he came back home to Sandpoint to work and live. In the 1980’s he went to Alaska where he worked for a few years and met his future wife, Shirley. They married in 1987. He loved Alaska and the little cabin he and Shirley lived in outside Kenai. Dick was involved in a car crash in 1992 which paralyzed him from the neck down. He moved to the Veterans Hospital in Seattle for a year before he and Shirley moved back to Idaho. Shirley was his dedicated and loving care giver for the past 22 years in Ponderay. Dick loved hunting and fishing, but fishing was his favorite pastime. He is survived by his wife Shirley; sisters: Beverly Fickle (Jim Hall) of Ponderay, ID, Emma Lou Craig (Rich Holder) of Prineville, OR, Ella Mae Coop of Ponderay, Linda LaFore (Bob) of Sandpoint, ID; his brother: Melvin E. Hansen (Jan); stepdaughter: Michelle Hall (Don) of Priest River, ID; stepson: Jeremy Hall (Rosie) of California; and by numerous nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Stephen, and a sister Marlene Taylor.