William J. Hansen

   William J. Hansen passed away on October 17, 2022 from complications of Parkinson’s.

   Bill was born in Albert Lea in 1936, then the family moved to Howard Lake and opened Hansen’s Family Grocery store. He grew up with a love of hunting and fishing, with his favorite tales of his youth being duck hunting the local sloughs with his dad.

   After high school he graduated from St. Cloud State with a biology degree and then went on to earn a masters in biology. Wanting to share his love of nature along with how he valued education he became a biology teacher in Princeton, where he was known to his students simply as Bio Bill.

   Married to Bonnie and living in an apartment in Princeton they thought a cabin would be more fun than a house so they bought a small cabin on Lake Inguadona in 1962. As teachers they spent the summers at the cabin until one summer they just didn’t go back, making the cabin a home in 1977. He started Bill Hansen Realty in Longville that summer. In the early years after closing a sale he would take the family to The Anchorage for burgers to celebrate!

   Bill shared his knowledge of the area and love of all things outdoors with every client and friend he had. He loved helping people, extending past his family and friends to whoever was in our small town of Longville. It especially extended to those who liked to catch a fish or spend some time hunting!

   In retirement he and Bonnie lived on Wabedo and really enjoyed time spent at the cabin on Lake of the Woods with friends, their dogs, and family.

   He truly loved living in Longville, which is really about the people here. His work, hobbies, and commitment to the Longville foundation all revolved around doing what he could to make it better for everyone who was here. In 2020 Bill received the honorary lifetime board member award from the Longville Area Community Foundation, which meant a lot to him.

   In later years after Bonnie had passed and Parkinson’s made things more difficult his friends did

a lot to make his later years enjoyable and memorable. Whether it was hunting, fishing, or a trip to FL to escape some cold weather his friends really made his later years as good as they could be.

   Bill was the best dad we could have had and best grandfather to our children. He was also a hunting and fishing buddy, mentor, and always an example to us on how to be a good friend, member of a community, and family person. We will miss him dearly and remember him always.

   Preceded in death by his wife Bonnie, survived by daughter Stacey (Kevin Boekenstedt),

granddaughter Bella and grandson Ben, son Bill (Laura Hansen) and granddaughter Ellie and

grandson Tom, sister Louis Payton and nephew Chandler (Christine Payton) and their children Roenen and Neve.

   The family will be holding a private celebration of life. Memorials can be sent to the Longville Area Foundation if you choose.