Roy Hansen Obituary Hansen, Roy C. Age 88, born Oct. 4, 1921; passed away on Oct. 7, 2009. Preceded in death by parents Carl & Johanna. Survived by wife Lee; sons Alan (Diane) and Gary (Mary); extended loving family. There were two strong interests throughout Roy's life - music and teaching. He was a lifelong trumpet player; formed his first dance band at age 14 in New Jersey. After a number of years performing with NY/NJ area big bands (and hanging out with Frank Sinatra), he went on tour with a group that settled into a long run in Duluth. It was there he received his draft notice. Reporting to Fort Snelling, he became the camp bugler, led dance bands and combos for nearly two years before going overseas. He served as an MP in Belgium & Germany during the Battle of the Bulge, and performed with the orchestras that backed up touring USO artists including Jack Benny, Ingrid Bergman and Martha Tilton. Returning to MN after the war, he resumed performing and arranging with a number of musical groups. After both marched in the 1947 Winter Carnival parade, Roy and Lee met at the Gopher Grill in the St. Paul Hotel. They married later that year - a marriage that lasted 62-1/2 years. Roy got a teaching degree from MacPhail, and became band director at St. Croix Falls for several years before moving to Wayzata. His proudest achievement there was leading the Swing Teens, a student dance band that achieved wide recognition and recorded a successful record. During this time he was also active with drum & bugle corps, as the musical director for the Schmidt (later Hamm's) Indians and several other corps. Leaving teaching in 1960, he built a successful business selling band uniforms to schools in the Upper Midwest. Retiring in the late 80s, he continued to perform and arrange music for a number of groups, finally hanging up his horns in the mid 90s. In retirement he took up painting, and he & Lee volunteered at the Arboretum's Japanese Gardens. He also spent extensive time writing books and giving presentations on history, music and other favorite topics. Roy and Lee were longtime active members of the U of MN Band Alumni. Private interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. There will be a visitation on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Please call Gary @ 952-200-5645 for details. Memorials preferred to University of Minnesota Foundation - CM3854, PO Box 70870, St. Paul MN 55170- 3854, attn: Friends of the University Band Fund (#1738).