Farrel Hansen

DR FARREL HANSEN Click here to view Farrel's Video Tribute IDAHO FALLS, ID -- Farrel Lawrence Hansen was born November 4, 1924, to Farrel Lawrence Hansen Sr. and Lily Wahlquist Hansen, at the old LDS Hospital in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He passed away February 9, 2009, at Life Care Center of Idaho Falls at the age of 84. Most of Farrel’s younger years were spent on the family farm west of Idaho Falls in the area which is now the Idaho Falls Airport. His greatest ambition from early childhood was to become a doctor and his most compelling hobby was photography. He attended Riverside and Eastside elementary schools, O. E. Bell Junior High School and graduated from Idaho Falls High School in 1942. Following that he took two semesters of PreMed at Washington University in St. Louis. In the fall of 1943 he enlisted in the U. S. Navy. After boot camp at Farragut, Idaho and a period of time at the US Naval Hospital in Long Beach, CA, Farrel was selected to enter the Navy V-12 training program for Medical Training. He completed his pre-medical training at UCLA, his Medical Schooling and Internship at Stanford Medical School, graduating in 1950. Following graduation he was accepted into the University of Utah for a Surgical Residency, which he completed in January, 1955. He then moved to Idaho Falls to begin his medical practice. He became a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery on February 16, 1956, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons on October 10, 1958. During his first few years of Surgical Practice he was part-time Physician for General Electric Corporation and part-time County Physician. When the Salk Vaccine was developed he set up the first public vaccination program for Polio in Bonneville County. Farrel was elected President of staff of the LDS Hospital and served from 1959 to 1960. He was appointed Chief of Staff of the Sacred Heart Hospital from 1963 to 1965. In 1970, in association with the Administrator of the LDS Hospital, he set up and directed a full time Emergency Department, which made Emergency care available on a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week basis. This was the first such program in the State. He and others set up an EMT Ambulance training program in Dubois, Idaho, which became the first Rural EMT trained program in the United States. Following this, and with the support of Fire Chief Les Corcoran and others, the Idaho Falls Fire Department trained and took over the ambulance service. This was the first such program in the state of Idaho. A Paramedic Training Program was developed with radio control and Dr. Hansen developed the curriculum and directed the training. This program was considered to be, at that time, the first rural based Paramedic program in the United States and the first Paramedic program in the Intermountain area. Farrel developed and directed the Eastern Idaho Poison Control Center and established training programs in Eastern Idaho grade schools on poison awareness for children as well as educational programs for adults in the handling of hazardous materials. He also developed and directed a public Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training program for Eastern Idaho, which was called the "Start a Heart" project and was coordinated with the rapid response of the new Paramedic Program. Farrel received a number of awards for his work in the development of the Emergency Medical System, including recognition from the Idaho Falls Medical Society, awards from Mayor Campbell of Idaho Falls, from Governor Cecil Andrus, nomination for "Those Who Made a Difference" award, and the Skip French Memorial Award in 1991. For two years prior to his retirement he served a part time Mission at the Idaho Falls Regional Family History Center; then following his retirement he and his wife Barbara served two full time Medical Missions for 18 months each in Mexico and Chile. Farrel enjoyed hiking, backpacking and mountain climbing through most of his life and continued to pursue his favorite hobby of photography actively after his retirement, as well as actively continuing his commitment to Family History. He authored six books during this period. He suffered from Parkinson Disease following his retirement but he continued his commitment until the time of his death, thanks to the help of his wife Barbara, who was the light of his life. Farrel is survived by a daughter and three sons born to his marriage to Alice Louise Kissner, namely, Connie Anne (Mike) Clark of Aptos, California; John Scot (Linda) Hansen of Visalia, California; Jeffrey Lee Hansen of Medford, Oregon; and Robert Mathew (Esperanza) Hansen of Visalia, California. Farrel married Barbara Ann Jensen Young in the Idaho Falls Temple on May 22, 1993. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Hansen, and five step children, Debbie (Brian) DeFilippis of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Kevin (Sandra) Young of Baldwin City, Kansas; Gregory (Karen) Young of Rigby, Idaho; Steve (Jan) Young of Ames, Iowa, and Boyd Young of Beaumont, California. He is also survived by five brothers, Orval H. (June) Hansen (June) of Falls Church, Virginia; Norman C. (Marjean) Hansen of Pocatello, Idaho; M. Reed (Marilyn) Hansen, John D. (Michele) Hansen, and a sister, Mary J. Freund, all of Idaho Falls, Idaho; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, and a son Lawrence Alexander Hansen, born to his marriage to Rosa Schreuders. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 14, 2009, at the Idaho Falls LDS Brentwood Ward, 2040 Brentwood Drive, with Bishop Clay Murdoch officiating. The family will visit with friends Friday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge, Idaho Falls, and Saturday from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Grant-Central Cemetery under the direction of Wood Funeral Home. Military Rites will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team and Idaho Honor Guard. ---------------------------------------------------- Condolences received online: Larry Walrath L1634@msn.com Farrel, you were a caring doctor, a friend and I will miss you. Larry Mary Walrath Stoddard mary.stoddard@gmail.com I am so sorry for you loss. I remember very clearly of Dr. Hansen coming to our home when I was a child and one time when he came over and bandage my foot as I had got it caught in the spokes of a bike. He was a great man. Jolene Herndon jherndon_65@hotmail.com What a very sad loss, Dr Hansen was a great doctor and man. He was my Moms doctor for many many years and I grew up knowing him as someone I knew we could always trust.[If not at Riverview ER then at his office] Although he will be missed here in this life, I feel so content knowing he has passed on to look out for us all from where he is now. Such a great man! Grateful I had the time to know Dr Hansen... Doctors are not made as dedicated as he was anymore... Bless Dr Farrel L Hansen's family Sincerely, Jolene Herndon Steve Walrath s3154@msn.com I am sad to here of the passing of such a kind and gentle physician such as Dr. Hansen. He cared for many in my family for many years. He was a good friend as well. May he rest in peace. Steve Walrath Kaci L. Hansen kacihansen@gmail.com Grandpa Hansen, you were the best grandpa anyone could have asked for. We love you and miss you so much. Jane Freund janelfreund@gmail.com I am so terribly saddened by the death of Uncle Farrel as he was a shining example of wisdom, wit, love, and dedication to his family, friends, and community! I cherish the times we were able to spend together and the insights he gave to me - particularly after Dad's death. Uncle Farrel made a difficult time much easier to handle. I look forward to celebrating Uncle Farrel's life with all of you this weekend and will see you then. Please know that all remain in my prayers and thoughts. Much love, Jane Kristi Curtis Kwiti@Comcast.net Barbara and family, Hello to all. I'm just sending my love to you and letting you know how sorry I am to hear about Farrel. I pray that the Lord's comforting hand will be upon you all. I wish I could be there, but alas no rest for the "wicked!!" I love you all!! Kristi Bart and Carol Albertson bzca693@msn.com We wanted to let you know that he will be missed out here is Osgood where we were very close to him. We hope all is well and things will heal soon for you all. The Albertson Family Lynette Sharp I was saddened to hear of the passing of this great man. It was an honor and privilege to have learned and worked along side him. He made a huge difference in the care of patients in Idaho Falls. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Randy and Louise Dixon ardy@wildblue.net Sorry to hear about your loss. We didn't know him well, but you did. That's the part that counts. Shawn McCourt psmccourt@gmail.com What a great man. His influence will continue on me through out my life. I loved to hear his stories about the mountains he climbed. He gave me my first skis! I especially enjoyed the times that I was able to visit in the winter when he would take me cross country skiing in the canals! I will truly miss him. Thanks opa! Dave Walrath walrath@ida.net I am so sorry for your loss. Mr. Hansen was a great man and he had a tremendous imact on many people's lives. Sandra (Guymon) Nelsen nelsen.sandra@gmail.com I was so sorry to hear of Dr. Hansen's passing. I worked with him at the old Idaho Falls Hospital on the pre and post op surgical floor, then in their ER the summer of 1981. He was a very patient person -- good with his patients and also quietly taught me much more than I had learned in nursing school. Philip Leavitt Jr leavitt.philip@gmail.com I am sorry for your loss. Farrel was a unique and wonderful man. My memories are of both his care of me as a physician and a companion and teacher in outdoor adventures. I will always treasure these memories.