The funeral service for Reuben E. Hansen, of Ellendale, will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 5, at First Lutheran Church, Ellendale. The Rev. Arne Halbakken will officiate. Burial will be in First Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Ellendale, and one hour before the service at the church. Military honors will be accorded by the Ellendale Veterans’ Organizations.

Reuben died on Saturday, May 1, 2004, at Good Samaritan Center in Albert Lea, where he had lived for the last eight months. Prior to this time he had resided at Country Neighbors in New Richland and at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea. He was 92 years old.

Reuben was born in Freeborn County on March 23, 1912, the son of Anton and Bessie (Laite) Hansen. He was a graduate of Albert Lea High School.

On July 14, 1935, he married Shirley Shinofield in Northwood, Iowa.

He worked at Borland’s Grocery, Malmer’s Grocery, and Stieler’s Market in Albert Lea. He also managed an A & P Tea Co. store in St. Peter. He served in the U. S. Army from 1943-1946. In 1946 he went into partnership with Anton Axelson and opened Pete and Rube’s Market in Ellendale. After selling this business in 1973, he worked for Richland Coop Service for three years.

He was a member of First Lutheran Church of Ellendale and had served as secretary and on the church council. He also served on the city council and was an active member of the Commercial Club. He was a past commander of Legion Post #296 and served for many years as the post adjutant in Ellendale. He also was a member of 40 + 8 post #1210 in Albert Lea.

Reuben enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling and woodworking. He especially was fond of time spent with his family and friends.

He is survived by his son, Tyler and his wife Shirley of Albert Lea; daughter, Cheryl Peterson and her husband Donald of Madison Lake, Minn.; daughter-in-law, Sharon Hansen of Hartland; nine grandchildren: Lori Hansen of Omaha, Neb., Jeff (Anne) Hansen of Lakeville, Minn., Kathy (Ross) Murphy of Knoxville, Tenn., Debra (Jeff) Schmit of Ellendale, Barb (Chuck) Hagen of New Richland, Sally (Scott) Fadden of Albert Lea, Chris (Kris) Hansen of Colfax, Wis., Robert (Jen) Hansen of Rush City, Minn., and Kaydee (Craig) Rhode of Maplewood, Minn.; I I great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley, in 1995; son, Gary, in 2001; parents; and two brothers: Manford and Raynard Hansen;

A special man gone from our lives, but loved and respected by all who knew him. Blessed be his memory.