William Otis "Billy" Hanson

William Otis Hanson, 90, Edgemont died July 27. Funeral service was conducted from the Peet Mortuary in Lusk Friday at 2:00 p.m., with the Rev. Martin H. Leedahl, pastor of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Edgemont, officiating. Burial was in the Lusk Cemetery.

Mrs. J. P. Watson, organist, accompanied Mrs. Mary Amendola, as she sang "The Lord's Prayer" and "I Know That My Redeemer Lives".

Casket bearers were Jim Reed, Russell Christiansen, Albert Glasby, Orin Carr, Francis Sedgwick and Sam Rennard.

Honorary bearers were Ray DeGering, J. P. Watson, Bill Spencer, Norman Glasby, Roscoe Austin, Mose Cooksey and Wernie Morgan.

Mr. Hanson was born March 29, 1881, to Isaac Newton and Lavina Miley Hanson at Loup City, Neb.

When Billy (as he was known to his friends and relatives) was three years old his mother died, leaving him and three other small children alone with the father. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel P. Conners, friends of the family, took Billy and he lived with them until 1896, when he went to live with his father in Cheyenne. He worked there on the railroad and on ranches in the San Luis Valley in Colorado.

In 1903 he came to Niobrara County where he homesteaded on Alkali Creek. He built up a fine ranch where he specialized in Hereford cattle using the "O H Bar" brand. During these early years he was a cowboy for such ranches as the "U Half Circle", J. L. Baird and Mert Jones. He retired from the "OH Bar" after 62 years of ranching, to live in Edgemont.

Mr. Hanson and Essie E. (Betty) Johnson were married June 29, 1929 at Whitney, Neb.

His parents and one sister died previously.

Survivors include his widow, Betty of the family home; one son Milton of Pierre, S.D.; two brothers, Charles of Hot Springs, S.D.; and Quincy of Broken Bow, Neb.; a nephew, Charles Hanson of Cheyenne, and three grandchildren, William of the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, and Betty Sue and Robert of Pierre.