Obituary of Ronald Lee Hanson

Ron Hanson passed away peacefully on May 1 at home, surrounded by his loving family. Ron was released from the hospital into hospice care a week earlier after it was determined his leukemia was no longer treatable. He was 83.

Ron was born in Spokane and grew up exploring the local woods and hills, where he began a lifelong love of the outdoors. 

He graduated from Central Valley High School in 1952. During his college years at Washington State, he earned money playing clarinet and saxophone in dance bands. Ron started his career in the U.S. Geological Survey after graduating in 1957. 

While skiing at Heavenly Valley in 1962, Ron met his soon-to-be wife, Eleanor Schmid, in the lift line. A match made in Heavenly, they were married in Carson City eight months later. In 1965, Ron graduated with an MS in Civil Engineering from Stanford University.

Ron’s career included time in Nevada, Washington, D.C., Tucson, and Oklahoma City. He retired in 1994. 

In retirement, Ron and Ellie split time between Post Falls and Tucson. Ron played clarinet in local orchestras and pursued his passions for outdoor activities. A born engineer, Ron was an inventor of contraptions that made the objects of daily living work better. If it was broken, Ron could fix it. 

Ron is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ellie; his three children, Christi (David), Carl (Sarah), and Steve (Alesha); his grandchildren, Fiona, Ciara, Dascher, and Racel; and his siblings Pam (Gene) and Vernon. 

The family would like to express their thanks and gratitude to Dr. Danko at Cancer Care Northwest, the nursing staff at Sacred Heart Hospital, and the staff of Kindred Hospice for their care and compassion.

There will be a celebration of Ron’s life, a potluck picnic, on Monday, May 7, at 4pm, at Kiwanis Park along the Spokane River.

To make charitable donations in his memory, Ron requested contributions to the Union of Concerned Scientists -- www.ucsusa.org/memorial