Obituary of Richard L Hanson

Richard L. ?Dick? Hanson, II, 83, of 157 Hanson Drive, Tribes Hill, passed away Monday, February 26, 2007 at St. Mary?s Hospital in Amsterdam. He was born in Johnstown, NY January 7, 1924 son of the late Beatrice Hyde Hanson and Richard L. Hanson, Sr. Mr. Hanson was raised in Tribes Hill and attended the Albany Bush School. He married the former Marion M. Dwyer on April 5, 1942 at St. Paul?s Parsonage in Johnstown. Mr. Hanson has been involved in fire service since 1942 serving as the Montgomery County Fire Coordinator for twenty years and as the Chief of the Tribes Hill Volunteer Fire Department for thirty years. He created the Montgomery County Arson Task Force and is recognized for his work with the Amvets, American Red Cross, NYS Police, NYS Assembly and for his achievements in Emergency Assistance during the flood of 1987. Mr. Hanson spent 32 years as Highway Superintendent. During the 1970?s and 1980?s Mr. Hanson, along with Mr. Pearly Crockett organized the Highway Superintendent?s organization. He received the Benjamin Franklin Fire Fighter Silver Medal in 1944, the Dewitt Clinton Award in 1992 and the annual recognition award from the F.D.R. Club in 1993. One of Mr. Hanson?s highest honors was to have the Montgomery County Fire Training Center renamed the Richard L. Hanson, Jr. Fire Training Center of Montgomery County in 1993. He was twice chosen Montgomery County Fireman of the Year and has 45 to 50 certificates awarded by New York State for the study and completion of various critical subjects. Mr. Hanson is a member and past Elder of the Tribes Hill Presbyterian Church and played a large role in the relocation of the church in 1955 to its current location. He was a member of the Traffic Safety Board, the LEPC Fire Advisory Board, and the Emergency Medical Service Council. He was also a member of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee and past chairman of the Town of Mohawk Democratic Committee for several decades. Mr. Hanson?s philosophy of families working and growing together; and the loving and caring for each other to promote happy and productive citizens was exhibited by his family run business of R.L. Hanson Construction, Inc. in Tribes Hill. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Marion of Tribes Hill, six devoted children; Millie Charlie Moran, Marion Gerald Wilder, Margaret Martin Simonds, Richard Pamela Hanson, III, George F. Hanson Richard MacKenzie, and Marie Jerome Fryc, twelve grandchildren; Richard Sharon Hanson, IV, Richard Crystal Ayers Moran, Wendy Clayton Blowers, Tim Anne Hanson, Grant Stacy Wilder, Brian Shanon Hanson, Greg Melody Wilder, Thadd Nikki Durrin Simonds, Jackie Hanson, Todd April Moran, Sarah Fryc and Jeffrey Fryc, Seventeen wonderful great-grandchildren; Brittani Hanson, Collin, Connor, Katelyn, Kianna, and Cody Hanson, Tyler Blowers, Rhyana Simonds, Caleb and Abby Wilder, Eliza and Ava Wilder, Chase Moran and Ashely Fonda, Breanna, Camron and Kaylah Hanson, two brothers, David Emily and Kenneth Dawn Hanson, an aunt, Madelyn Tagliatela, and several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Mr. Hanson was predeceased by a sister Betty Brownell, and brothers George and Charles Hanson. A Funeral Service will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Friday, March 2, 2007 at Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, NY 12010. The Family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Members of the Tribes Hill Volunteer Fire Department invite area Fire Departments to meet at 7:00 pm Thursday at the funeral home. Interment will be at a later date in Pine Grove Cemetery in Tribes Hill. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Tribes Hill Volunteer Fire Department for a future scholarship in Mr. Hanson?s memory, 280 Mohawk Drive, Tribes Hill, NY 12177, or to the Tribes Hill Presbyterian Church, Mohawk Drive, Tribes Hill, NY 12177.