Dwayne Howard Hanson

Dwayne H. Hanson, 82, passed away October 14, 2025, at his home in Bozeman, Montana.

Dwayne was born in southern California in September of 1943, and grew up among the orange groves of Orange County in the 1950s. He was always an outdoor person. He found employment at the County of Orange Public Works, rising from a laborer, to equipment operator, to supervisor of heavy equipment operations. Dwayne worked for the County of Orange, California for 42 years and retired in 2002. He moved to Bozeman that year and fully loved being in Montana. He studied the history of the area and explored the ghost towns and historic locations throughout the state. He would find a gravel road and follow it until there was no more road. Those were the adventures he loved the most.

Shortly before his retirement, he became interested in restoring gas pressure appliances such as Coleman lamps and lanterns. Being mechanically minded, this became Dwayne's avid hobby for the next 23 years. He restored numerous lamps, some dating as far back as 1900, with his knack for getting them running. He enjoyed helping others with restoring items they found also. He was a member of the International Coleman Collectors Club and looked forward to attending the annual convention each year. These took place across the country and allowed him to visit new places and see new things which he enjoyed immensely. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends throughout this country and abroad.

Dwayne was preceded in death by his parents, Howard Leroy Hanson and Marjorie Violet (Yost) Hanson. He is survived by his brothers, Dennis (Lucinda) Hanson , Curt Hanson, and James (Diana) Hanson; his children, Michele (Tim) Hanson, and Darren Hanson; as well as his loving life companion, Darcy Vantiger. A celebration of his life will be planned for next spring in Bozeman, Montana.