Darrell Buckner Hansen

Darrell Buckner Hansen passed away at the age of 89 on February 23, 2021 in the comfort of his own home, surrounded by family.

Darrell was born September 27, 1931 in Mount Vernon, Washington in his grandmother’s house to John Henry Hansen and Mary Teien Hansen.  He went to went to school in the Highland High School District. He spent the summer between his Junior and Senior year working at Bar 41ranch in Cle Elum, Washington. He enjoyed the “horse” lifestyle so much he stayed there that winter attending Cle Elum high school for his senior year graduating with the of class of 1950.   He met the love of his life Patsy Reckling at a meeting of the Renton Ranahans Horse club where he noticed a cute little girl driving up in her father’s cute little Studebaker.  They both had a love of horses and riding.  They had just celebrated 68 years of marriage this past year. Four kids and 68 years later, we think it worked out.

Darrell owned and operated a log Truck for several of their early years.  This was followed by working with the operating Engineers for 50 years.  Dad said, “It has been a good occupation!” He first started working for his brother’s excavating company in Seattle. At one point they were working on a job at the University of Washington digging a hole for a new underground parking garage.  A group was protesting/rioting and drove a big front-end loader into the hole that was at least two stories deep.  Dad had recently purchased a new red diesel engine International pickup that he was immensely proud of.  When he saw a group trying to push the pickup into the hole he said “this is enough”.  That “incident” is what got Dad to give up on Seattle the town he had lived in most of his life.                

Dad spent quite a while looking for property in the Cle Elum, and Ellensburg areas. The place he settled on (and could afford) was out near the end of Badger Pocket outside the town of Kittitas, WA. It was 160 acres with an old run-down house with no real outbuildings to speak of. It did not take Dad long to build several small buildings and a barn.   Son Andy’s memory of the farm was “Dad had a cow that had calved during a really cold freezing day. They went out to get the cow and calf in and he used mom as a decoy so he could get the cow in and bring the calf in the house and put by the fire to thaw out.”  Dad ultimately sold that farm and moved into the town of Kittitas. 

From there he and wife Pat, finally settled in Sequim, WA. Dad and Mom were like early settlers. They bought raw land in Sequim and proceeded to build a huge garage/shop, and several outbuildings. They also had a house built on the property. It was clear, not so sure the outbuildings for the horses, mule, and the many of their cats and dogs, got built first and the house second. It seemed through their entire life together, the animals always came first. Dad loved his horses, mules, and especially his mule, Ruby. 

In his retirement years he spent his time learning the fine art of Dutch Oven cooking with Andy Mills cooking dinners with their ovens in the back country of the Winthrop area as back country guides.  One Thanksgiving he made the entire Thanksgiving meal in his Dutch Ovens.  It was the best Thanksgiving meal we ever had.  When he moved to Sequim he would pack in with Ruby and several mules to help clear and maintain the Cascade trails and on occasion he would help to pack out injured hikers in the Olympic National Forest.

Darrell was preceded in death by his parents, sister Bev Hanna, brother Bruce. He is survived by children Julia (John) Sorensen Ellensburg, WA, Stuart (Marsha) Hansen Maple Valley, WA and Yuma, 

AZ, Edward (Cristine) Hansen Tuscon, AZ, Andrew Hansen Cle Elum, WA. Survived by sisters Edris Eggert, CA and Marilyn (Fred) Hills Vashon Island, WA.  Grandchildren Aimee (Billy) Hanson Ellensburg, WA, Abbi Sorensen, Rusty Beaver Checotah, OK, Kristi (Roland) Schirrmacher Lincoln, NE, Eric (Paige) Sorensen Ellensburg, WA, Joshua Hansen Maple Valley, WA, Bailey (Shaila) Hansen Cle Elum, WA, Ashley Hansen Cle Elum, WA. Great Grandchildren Jace Schirrmacher, Dain Schirrmacher, Hadlee Hanson, Haylee Hanson, Elizabeth Sorensen, Payton Sorensen, Scarlet Hansen, Fallon Jo Hansen.

The family will have a celebration of life at a later date.  In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Darrell’s name may be made to the Olympic Discovery Trail, P.O.Box 1836, Port Angeles, WA 98362, make checks out to Peninsula Trails Coalition https://olympicdiscoverytrail.org/donate/ or Back Country Horseman -BCHW-Peninsula Chapter, PO Box 451, Carlsborg, WA 98324.

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