Neil Hansen

Neil (Skip) Hansen went to be with the Lord on the 28th of November 2017 at the age of 85. He was surrounded by his immediate family and close friends. Skip was born on the 8th of July 1932 to Letha and Henry Hansen in Rapid City, South Dakota. As a child he grew up in Riverside, CA, and not too many years later, the Hansen family moved to Chico where they settled in and finished raising their family. In October of 1951 Skip enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17. He served on the USS Apache in the Korean War where he served all around the Pacific. The most notable mission was Operation Castle where he witnessed 6 Atomic blasts and the largest Hydrogen bomb ever detonated. He was recognized as an Atomic Veteran. Prior to his discharge from the Navy he met the love of his life Bertha Lord whom he married February 16, 1955. He worked at the Sierra Army Depot Fire Department in Herlong Ca. for 28 years where he was Captain at the time of his retirement. He volunteered to escort the unexploded bombs to be exploded back in the 1960's and 70's. He and Bertha were also very active with their girls in Campfire Girls and later with 4-H, FFA and Rainbow Girls. They helped with Easter egg hunts, Harvest festivals, and 25th anniversary of Sierra Army Depot. He was the past PTA President of Herlong Elementary, 32nd degree Mason, Pass Patron of Eastern Star, Grand Cross of Colors for Rainbow and Lassen County Sheriff's Posse. He and Bertha traveled to Alaska as often as they could where they became big fans of the Iditarod dog race. They also travel to 13 different countries in Europe as well as travels to Guam, Japan, Okinawa, Hawaii and Mexico. He is survived by his wife of 62 years Bertha Hansen, daughters Evonne Wilks (Jerry Wilks), Pamela Rose (Jerry Rose) and Nanette Perry (Bruce Carpenter). 4 grandsons and 2 granddaughters, 12 great grandsons and 5 great granddaughters and 1 great great grandson. He is also survived by adoptive daughter Kristy and husband Don Reid and their 2 children, his sister Donna Ramey and brother Buster Hansen and numerous nieces and nephews. Neil will be truly missed. He loved to tell us stories of how it was around here in Chico in the 40's, and how much it had grown since he was a kid. Neil achieved a lot in his lifetime. To most it would of been a hard life, but to him it was normal. He made it through a small airplane crash to the atomic and hydrogen bomb blasts. He lived life to the fullest loved his family to the end he will be greatly missed. We all looked up to him as our Super Hero. We love you and you will always be in our hearts.