Dorrell Reed Hansen, Jr.

      Dorrell Reed Hansen, Jr., 91, died on February 23, 2021 at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise, Idaho. He was holding hands with his wife of 73 years when he died. Dorrell fought a short battle with the disease Myasthenia Gravis.

     Dorrell was born in Bingham, Utah to Dorrell Reed Hansen, Sr. and Myrtle Mulliner. He was the first of their five children. Shortly after his birth the family moved to Shoshone, ID where Dorrell attended school through high school, lettering in sports.

     He married his high school sweetheart, Clara Boesiger, and they started moving around and having a family. Dorrell started with United Airlines in Twin Falls, ID in 1951. He transferred with United to Bakersfield, CA, then to Dayton, OH and finally to Modesto, CA. Dorrell served part time as a reserve Deputy Sheriff in Ohio and in Modesto, and then became a full time Deputy Sheriff in Stanislaus County California in 1965. His career at the Sheriff’s Department included Detective Sargent and an instructor at the police academy.

     After he retired in 1980, Dorrell and Clara moved back to Idaho on to a small acreage outside of Gooding that only had a shed and a travel trailer. It was here that they built their own home and converted 20 acres of sagebrush into a desert oasis that had animals, flower gardens and endless adventures for their grandchildren and great grandchildren.  During that time Dorrell substitute taught in Gooding Schools and worked as a part time Deputy Sheriff in Lincoln County. In 2003 they moved off the farm into Gooding. There Dorrell started attending St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church and became a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus. They moved to Boise in 2016 to be closer to their children.

     Dorrell is survived by: his wife of 73 years – Clara; daughters - Teresa Schoolcraft (Daryl) of Middleton and Darlene Clemens (Dale) of Modesto CA; son - Dorrell III (Kay) of Boise; son-in-law - Thilo Bendix of Sonora, CA; 9 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great granddaughter.  

     He was preceded in death by: his parents; one brother; three sisters; son – Randy; daughter - Lucille Bendix; and a great grandson - Trenton Cockayne.

     Burial will be at the Shoshone Cemetery with a memorial service to be held later when it is safe to do so.

     Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service – Gooding Chapel.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dorrell Reed Hansen, Jr., please visit our floral store.