Mike Frank Hanson, 70, Bonners Ferry, passed away peacefully on September 28, 2025, surrounded by family and friends. In keeping with Mike’s wishes, a celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, October 19, at the Great Northwest Territories Event Center, 998 Mountain Meadows Road, Naples, where friends and family can gather to honor his memory. A luncheon will follow the service.
Mike was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on February 11, 1955, to Carl and Shirley Hanson. He remained in the area where most all of his siblings were born until he graduated high school. In his youth, Mike enjoyed canoeing in the Boundary Waters, playing ice hockey around the neighborhood and teasing his siblings. As a teenager, he continued to enjoy life playing hockey and going on adventures with friends in his yellow jeep. Mike was a great storyteller, although a bit mischievous.
His adventurous spirit led him westward to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, near Denver, where he became a skilled craftsman and avid skier. There he married and had his first son. After several moves, and various jobs, in 1989 he ended up in Bonners Ferry with his family. Mike went on to have another son and daughter and later divorced.
After a time working for BF Builders, Mike started M.F. Hanson Construction, through which he poured decades of sweat, skill and integrity into every project. He took immense pride in building not just houses, but homes where families could grow and thrive. Mike also spent many years serving on the Beeline Water Association.
In 1999, Mike married Anita C. Uhlendorf. Together they merged two families into one. He took great pride in establishing his 30 acre homestead on Songbird Lane. He and Anita continued to raise their kids while developing a beautiful home, including a fruit orchard, large garden, pond, alfalfa field, farm animals, and two shops where Mike ran his business. He found great joy in the outdoors—skiing, camping, backpacking, hiking and whitewater rafting with his family.
He graduated Mountain School with Aaron and began backcountry skiing, rock climbing, ice climbing and mountaineering in North Idaho and Canada. They enjoyed many trips with like-minded adventurous local friends. Mike eventually climbed Mt. Denali with a group from the Spokane Mountaineers.
He was never happier than being at home when surrounded by mountains, fresh air and the people he loved. Mike was known for his friendliness, contagious laugh, creative storytelling, ample energy, hard work and strong faith in God. In his later years, he could often be seen sitting on the front porch in his rocking chair enjoying the peaceful view and throwing the ball with his dog, Bonnie.
After a series of medical issues, Mike had to retire from working at age 62 and concentrate on his health. For the past three years, he resided at Sunset Home Assisted Living, where he was cared for with dignity and compassion by all. The staff created a warm, nurturing environment where Mike’s comfort was evident by his warm smile.
Mike is survived by his loving wife of 26 yeasrs, Anita, children Aaron (Johanna) Hanson, Michael “Chip” Hanson and Mary Rose Hanson, stepchildren Angela (Scott) Hittle, Paul (Celeste) DelCarlo, and Heather (Andrew) McLean, grandchildren Finn and Milo, step grandchildren Austin (Kendra), Dylan (Josie), Jasmin, Krider and Penny, step great-grandchildren Brayden, Riley, Logan and Brynleigh, siblings Michele (Gayland) Niblock of Missouri, Melissa (Tom) Wheatley of Utah, Marlene of Minnesota, Melissa (Tracy) Martin of Washington, Mary Margaret of Colorado, Mark (Mari) of Washington, and Matthew of Colorado and many nieces and nephews
Mike’s dad, Carl C. Hanson, passed away in 2023 and his mother, Shirley A. (McOmber) Hanson, passed in 2022. His younger brother, Martin “Jon” Hanson, passed away in 2016. They were all residing at Praying Hands Ranch in Colorado where they worked and lived for many years.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to local conservation efforts or a charity of choice in Mike’s name.