Virgil Wayne Hansen, better known as "Dobby" to his family and friends, was born October 11, 1918, at Lucerne, South Dakota, to Ralph and Alvina (Eckerman) Hansen.

He grew up in the Lucerne area and received his first ten years of education there prior to graduating from the Philip High School in 1936.  He then attended Poly Technic Institute in Billings, Montana, where he studied stagecraft and paper recycling.

He was united in marriage to Vivian Carol Palmer on April 1, 1939, at Ft. Pierre, South Dakota.  They made their home in Haakon County, South Dakota.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the 89th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mech.).  He received the Purple Heart, the Silver Star Metal, and other citations while serving in Rhineland Central Europe.

After his discharge he returned to Philip, South Dakota, where he worked and then later established Virgil Hansen Signs, which he operated until the time of his death.

He was a member of the Wheeler-Brooks American Legion Post #173 and the VFW Post #3069, both of Philip.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Vivian Carol Hansen, of Philip; six sons: Virgil Wayne Hansen Jr. of Orange, California, M.R. Hansen of Raleigh, North Carolina, L. Ralph Hansen of Bend, Oregon, Frank Hansen of Albuquerque, New Mexico, David "Fuddy" Hansen of Philip, and Hans P. Peterson Hansen of Colorado Springs, Colorado; four daughters: Delores (Mrs. Donald) Denke of Pavilion, Wyoming, Cecile Marie Klassen of Clear Lake Park, California, Carol Ann (Mrs. Alan) Vogan of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Vinnie Hansen (Mrs. Malcolm Fatzer) of Santa Cruz, California; 23 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; five brothers: Kenneth Hansen of Wall, South Dakota, Keith Hansen of Tucson, Arizona, Philip Hansen of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Dean Hansen of Hawthorne, California, and Dale Hansen of Frazier Park, California; two sisters, Bonne (Mrs. Elmer) Kanago of Rapid City, South Dakota, and Margaret (Mrs. Fred) Hollenbeck of Austin, Texas; and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by one great-granddaughter, Shannon Butcher; his parents, Ralph and Alvina Hansen; and four brothers, Cecil Hansen, Ralph Hansen Jr., Russell Hansen, and Wallace "Bud" Hansen.

Services
Wednesday, January 2, 1991
10:00 a.m.
American Legion Hall
Philip, South Dakota

Officiating
Reverend M.A. "Bud" Sechler

Music
Hallie Albrecht - Pianist
Elvera Moos & Peggy Eggers - Vocalists

Ushers
Marty Hansen - Jesse Hansen
Tyrone Moos

Active Pallbearers - Sons
Virgil Wayne Hansen Jr. - Frank Hansen
M.R. Hansen - David "Fuddy" Hansen
L. Ralph Hansen - Hans P. Peterson Hansen

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment with Military Honors
by the Sturgis Honor Guard
Wednesday, January 2, 1991
2:00 p.m.
Black Hills National Cemetery
Sturgis, South Dakota