Darrell E. "Pete" Hansen 1917 - 2005

KOCHART, HANSEN, MALONEY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/31/2019 at 21:53:10

Sioux City Journal
4 December 2005

RENO, Nev. -- Darrell E. "Pete" Hansen, 88, of Reno, gentle and wise father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away Friday, Dec. 2, 2005, at his home.

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Snows Catholic Church in Reno, with a celebration of his life following at his home. Arrangements are under the direction of Waltons Funeral Home in Reno. We invite you to send a condolence message in the family guest book at www.waltonsfuneralhome.com.

Pete was born Oct. 1, 1917, on a farm in Smithland, Iowa, to Chris and Freda (Kochart) Hansen. He grew up with two brothers and two sisters, played basketball and worked on the farm.

After graduation from Hornick High School, Pete attended Morningside College in Sioux City and graduated from Midland Radio School in Kansas City, Kan. He and three friends headed West in an open-top Model T car, ending up in Oakland, Calif., with 98 cents in their pockets. They found jobs, then later decided to return home, but their vehicle broke down in Omaha, Neb., and they decided to try farming again. The next time they headed West, they stayed. Pete later worked for United Airlines refueling planes in Reno, where he met Kathryn Maloney, a beautiful University of Nevada co-ed, while she worked selling tickets at the Crest Theater.

They married on March 21, 1943, and lived in Alameda, Calif., where Pete worked as an airline radio operator in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. They also lived in Salt Lake City and then returned to Reno, where they raised eight children. Pete worked over the years in mining with his father-in-law, Frank Maloney, and as an independent milk distributor, laundromat owner, salesman and property manager. During the mining years, they lived on many a Western frontier, from a converted railroad car at Copper King mine in Carlin, Nev., to Mexico City, to 12 miles outside of Nome, Alaska.

Through it all, Pete was most devoted to his wife and family. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn, about whom he wrote the following, "I wanted my life to be changed by Kathryn. I wanted our children to be like her ... I've been accepted by those who would not know me if it weren't for Kathryn and that's OK. I like being liked because of Kappy. I'm proud of Kappy and our children."

Survivors include sons, Mike (Joy), Mark (Kris), Matt (Anne) and Knud (Carolyn), all of Reno, and Frank (Andrea) of Valencia, Calif.; daughters, Hannah Farquhar (David) of Auburn, Calif., and Lydia Altick (John) of Lake Tahoe; sisters, Hap Springer of Mesa, Ariz., and Carol Miller of Costa Mesa, Calif.; 20 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and many friends and admirers.

He was preceded in death by his son, Jude; and brothers, Mel and Nubs.