Obituary of Donald Hansen

Don Hansen died peacefully on Monday, February 21, 2011. He was surrounded by his wife and other family members who talked with him and comforted him before and during the day of his passing. Born in Oakland, California on July 21, 1928, Don attended Oakland Technical High School. He served in the U.S. Navy, attended Navy flight school, and received a degree in English and languages at UC Berkeley. Don began his career with Seattle City Light as a surveyor on the Skagit River. He next worked for several surveying companies in the San Francisco Bay Area on power house and tunnel installations. His technical and writing skills next led to equipment testing and development with Chrysler in Taranto, Italy. Subsequent positions included project management in Montreal with Kaiser Engineering, in Chile with Holmes & Narver, in Columbia with Exxon, work in India with Lummus Corp., and national environmental policy development in Peru and Bolivia. Don met Dina, the love of his life, while working as a consultant with multinational business development companies in Russia. Following three years in Vladivostok, Russia, they moved to Seattle area in 1996. Don's keen interest in Viking heritage was sparked early by his Danish grandmother "who gave me the sense of wonder that is still with me". He started The Viking Trader, a business offering fine replicas of jewelry and artifacts from the Danish National Museum and other Nordic museums. He served as a docent at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle and spearheaded the re-establishment of "Leif Erickson Day", which was proclaimed and officiated by the Governor of Washington. Don also provided ongoing consulting services for the animation "Beowolf". He was a member of the Ravens of Odin, a Viking reenactment group in California. In his last days, he spoke of "going" and we can only imagine that it must be on a Viking ship to somewhere respectable and dignified. His interest in opera, classical music, fine literature, gardening, travel, friends, a warm fire, good conversation, and excellent food are what many remember so well about Don. Celebration of Don's life will be held privately. Donations in his memory may be made to an animal shelter of your choice.