Manten Hanson

Manten T. Hanson was born December 9, 1923 in Minneapolis, MN, the son of Tenny and Amanda Hanson. Mat grew up n Erdahl, MN and graduated from Elbow Lake High School. Mat was united in marriage to Marylin Oyen. The couple eventually made their home in Sunnyside, Queens, New York. They were blessed with one child, Dorothy Jane. In 1943 Mat joined the United States Army. He was assigned to the Signal Corps and served in Astoria, NY. Mat also served in Korea during the Korean War. When Mat left the army he went to work for WWRL Radio station in New York City. Mat was promptly fired when the employees of the radio station unionized (today the radio station is characterized as liberal and progressive). This didn?t stop Mat from pursuing his interest in communications. For the next thirty-nine years Mat worked at the United Nations building in New York as a communications specialist. During that period Mat was able to witness, first hand, many of the historic speeches and decisions made at the UN. After retiring in from the United Nations Mat and Marylin moved back to Minnesota and made their home in Alexandria. Mat work was his hobby he enjoyed working with radios and electronics. Mat enjoyed listening to music. He and Marylin also traveled throughout the United States and traveled to Norway twice. On Sunday, June 28, 2009 Mat died at the age of eighty-five years. His daughter, Dorothy Jane Hanson and one brother preceded him in death. Mat is survived by his wife of sixty-five years, Marylin Hanson of Alexandria. A memorial service was held on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. Reverend Barbara Lund Thompson officiated. Interment in Teaneck, NJ will be at a later date. American Legion Post 87 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 936 provided military honors.