Stanley Jay Hansen

Stanley Jay Hansen

Feb. 1, 1937 – Dec. 21, 2021

Midday on December 21, 2021, Stanley Jay Hansen slipped away quietly in the presence of his family at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Billings after a hard-fought battle with numerous health issues. Sadly, many items on his “to do” list were unfinished.

Stan was born February 1, 1937, to Jay Golden and Kaytie (Bush) Hansen in Lovell. Being raised in a farming/ranching operation, many hours were spent riding horses, working cattle and riding through the hills to meet neighbors from the Kane area. Some of his happiest memories were of spending summers on the Big Horn Mountains with Uncle Floyd and Aunt Reva Hansen at the cattle association cow camp. When very young, he recalled fond memories of spending time with his Uncle Ezra Hansen.

In 1955, after graduation from high school, Stan and several local friends headed to Texas and Mexico, resulting in many interesting stories told many times. After working in Texas for a time with uncles Dan and Fred Bush, he returned to Lovell to begin a career with Great Western Sugar Company in the lab. Working up through the ranks of the mechanical side, he attained positions of assistant master mechanic and later retired in 1999 as the master mechanic of then Western Sugar Company. The company had changed ownership several times.

Another connection to the sugar company was when Sheila Townsend moved to town in 1959 when her dad was transferred to the Lovell factory from Billings. The Lovell sugar bins were under construction at the time. 

Stan and Sheila were married in 1962 and lived east of Lovell for five years. During that time, son Lance was born in June of 1964. In 1966, a second son was born, but he was unable to survive. After moving to town, with deep snowdrifts and cold, son Brandon was born in January 1968. When he was nine months old the
family moved to the corner of Carmon and Jersey avenues and remain there today.

One of the most enjoyable times for Stan was when he obtained his professional guide license to help his brother-in-law, Major Miller, owner of Bare Tracks Trophies LLC, on the ranch guiding hunters, calling in turkeys and selling hunts at shows. The ranch bordered the Black Hills in the Aladdin, Wyoming, area. Guiding for antelope and trophy deer was in the Moorcroft area. His bear hunt in Alaska with his hunting friends and Major was one of his favorite experiences.

Stan and Sheila enjoyed traveling around the world until COVID-19 hit. Countries they enjoyed were the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, England, Scotland, Czech Republic, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Canada and Mexico, and they also Hawaii.

Stan served with the Wyoming National Guard and was a member of the Lovell United Methodist Church for nearly 60 years. 

We will miss our best friend, husband, dad, grandpa, uncle, muscle car man, teller of tall tales and cat man.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son Chad Eric, brother Lyle and brother-in-law Major Miller.

He is survived by his wife, Sheila, of 59½ years; sons Lance and Brandon of Lovell; grandchildren Tara, Steven and Scot; great-grandchildren Kyler, Avangeline, Alice and Radlee; sister Ila Miller of Aladdin/Spearfish, S.D.; and fur buddies Daisy at home, Blue, Rider, Mud Foot, Bat Cat, Mama Kitty and old Black at the shop.

At his request there will be no formal services at this time. Later this summer a celebration of life and scattering of the ashes will take place. He reminds us to please take time to renew an
old friendship, share a story with a friend and perhaps a glass of wine and pet a kitty.