Funeral services for Alvin Hanson, age 75, of Watertown, SD, will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 28, 2010, at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Watertown.  Rev. Tom Christenson will officiate.  Music will be provided by Marian Riddle as organist and Don Seim as soloist.   Alvin passed away on Thursday, June 24, 2010, at his residence in Watertown.

    Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.  Military graveside honors will be provided by Codington County Post # 17 of the American Legion of Watertown and the Military Funeral Honors Team of the SD Army National Guard.  Honorary pallbearers will be Alvin’s grandchildren:  Jayde, Brittany, Spencer, Skyler, Ryan, Kenton, Arissa, Aulani, Addison, and great-grandchildren:  Harlie, Noah, and Dawson.  Active pallbearers will be: Mitch Stickle, Keith Diekman, Bill Chilson, Tim Hoag, Buzz Nisich, and Anthony Leomiti.

   Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. and in the church on Monday prior to services.  The family is requested to meet at the church on Monday by 9:30 a.m. for a prayer service.

    Alvin was born on February 25, 1935, in Clear Lake, SD, to Frank and Milla (Evanson) Hanson.  He attended a country school near Clear Lake.  Following his education, he started farming and then entered the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War.  After an honorable discharge, Alvin returned to Clear Lake, drove a plumbing truck, and then resumed farming.

     On May 31, 1958, Alvin married Carol Selchert in Goodwin, SD.  The couple moved to Presho, SD, where Alvin drove a hay truck and cement truck.  In 1960, the couple moved to Watertown and Alvin began driving for Jimco Ready and then purchased Stockman’s Café in 1979.  In 1981, he began driving for Building Products Incorporated and later drove for Benchmark Foam.  He worked there for 25 years and retired in 2005.

    Alvin was a member of Lutheran Church of our Redeemer.  He enjoyed dancing, working in the yard, traveling, and riding on Amtrak.  He loved visiting and sharing jokes with people.  He especially loved to spend time with his family.

    Alvin is survived by his wife, Carol, of Watertown; one son, Kyle Hanson, of Kansas City, MO; two daughters: Kristine (Tim) Hoag, of Sioux Falls, SD, and Kerri (Anthony) Leomiti, of Pleasanton, CA; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one sister, Mildred Diekman, of Clear Lake, SD.

     He was preceded in death by one son, Kenton; his parents; and 13 brothers and sisters.