Carl Alan Hansen

Carl Alan Hansen was born on Oct. 30, 1962, on his father’s 32nd birthday, in Poplar. He was of the product of the union of Kenneth C Hansen, a bachelor from Poplar, and Barbara Kjelland Rippe, a widow from Valley City, North Dakota, with a 4-year-old son.

The family moved to Glasgow in 1970 and lived east of town on the Fort Peck Highway cut-across. Carl thoroughly enjoyed spending time at their cabin at the Pines, riding horses and playing sports. At 15 years old, he contracted Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and that slowed him down for a while, but he was able to recover enough to play football and help the Scotties in the 1980 state championship as an offensive tackle.

Carl attended Rocky Mountain College and graduated in 1985 with a degree in business. The 1980s were tough to find jobs and, after working various jobs, Carl went to California to work as a beekeeper. Pollinating in Washington and California and working the bees for honey in Malta, Lewistown, Glasgow and Columbus became the life for the next few years. He always had bees of his own through this time and was able to later purchase the territory around Fishtail to start his own beekeeping business.

Migratory farm working isn’t conducive to relationships and he had been in one for five years with Marianna Gay, whom he met through his cousin. He sold his interest in the Fishtail territory and looked for a more stable career. He got a job helping open the new ShopKo in Billings and then went on to management training in Great Falls. Retail really wasn’t the joy he had been looking for and he wanted to be in sales, which led him to D.A. Davidson as a financial advisor. There, Carl found his niche and so enjoyed his relationships with his clients/friends. He obtained his certified financial planner designation and worked hard to be an expert in his field. For the next 25 years, D.A. Davidson served Carl and his family well.

Carl and Marianna were married in 1992 at Mayflower Congregational Church in Billings. With the addition of Hannah Noel in 1995 and Miles Christian in 1998, his family was complete. The best part of his life was his family. He participated in Girl Scouts, softball, baseball, camping, fishing, hunting; all which brought the most wonderful things a good life could bring. Through baseball and softball, he got involved in umpiring Little League, travel ball and High School MOA softball. He also was on the Board at Rocky Mountain College and Chairman of the Board for a few terms. After leaving the RMC Board, he joined Rotary, an organization aligning with his values.

Carl passed away the morning of Dec. 28, 2023, in Billings, at 61 years old, from complications of cancer.

He is survived by his wife, Marianna; children Hannah and Miles; mother Barbara Hansen; and brother John (Jaynee) Hansen. He was predeceased by his father Kenneth.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Mayflower Congregational UCC, Rocky Mountain College, or a charity of your choice.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ, 2940 Poly Drive in Billings.