Obituary of Dale Hansen

Dale "Ole" Hansen, age 59, of Yankton, SD passed away early Monday, August 19, 2013 at the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, SD after a courageous battle with cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Thursday, August 22, 2013 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton, with Rev. Mark Lichter officiating. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Yankton, SD. Visitations will begin at 5:00 PM, Wednesday, at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, with a rosary at 7:00 PM followed by a video life tribute and then a Scripture service at 7:30 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Ole was born June 18, 1954 in Viborg, SD to Lester and Dorothy (Friman) Hansen. He grew up on a farm between Viborg and Hurley. He attended school in Hurley graduating from Hurley High School in 1972. On August 6, 1977 he married Barb Kleinschmit at Yankton, SD. To this union, two children were born: Adam and Emily. After high school he began working cable TV construction. He worked for Zylstra Communications and built the first cable TV system in Yankton. He worked at Wilson Trailer Company building gooseneck trailers for 32 years until his health forced him to retire in August 2010. Ole had a passion for youth and youth activities. He was instrumental in developing the Jaycees Jr. Leader football program. He was a founding member of the Roger Haas Basketball Tournament. He was very involved in the Jaycees at the local, district and state levels. He was also a member of the Optimist Club, the YHS Booster Club and YBI. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Yankton. Through his involvement in community service he received various awards. He and his family were named the Outstanding Young Jaycees Family of the Year. He also received The Optimist Friend of Youth Award, and the Sertoma Club Service to Mankind Award. Ole was an avid sports fan following Adam and Emily as well as all of his nieces and nephews with their athletic activities. Even after the graduation of his children he continued supporting the Bucks and Gazelles along with USD and Mount Marty athletics. At home games you could always find him in his "reserved" seat because he was always one of the first fans in the stands. In recent years, Ole was able to follow his granddaughter's activities. Trips to Pierre this summer included watching Jillian play soccer and softball and sitting through Jillian and Brooke's three hour dance recital. Although too young for organized sports, Xavier enjoyed playing basketball on his little hoop with Grandpa. He enjoyed napping and cuddling with his newest granddaughter Halle. He is survived by his wife, Barb Hansen of Yankton, SD; son, Adam (Megan) Hansen of Pierre, SD; daughter, Emily (Keiron) Taylor of Omaha, NE; four grandchildren, Jillian Hansen, Brooke Hansen, Xavier Taylor and Halle Taylor; brother, Dennis "Buzz" (Betty) Hansen of Cherokee, IA; sisters: Karen (David) Schooley of Casper, WY, Mary (Richard) Rauk of Beaver Creek, MN; father-in-law, Ralph Kleinschmit of Yankton, SD; brother-in-law, Arvid Magnuson of Parker, SD. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Dorothy Hansen, sister, Debra Magnuson, and mother-in-law, Clara Kleinschmit.