Loving family Rick Hanson of Leader says he is very thankful for the love and support of his family as he battles with cancer. Rick was diagnosed with rectal cancer this past January. It has since spread to his liver. A benefit spaghetti dinner and live auction to raise money for Rick A benefit spaghetti dinner and live auction (with auctioneer Daryl Larson) will be held Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Bear’s Den in Leader to help defray medical expenses for Leader native Rick Hanson.

Rick, 47, was diagnosed with rectal cancer this past January. The cancer has since spread to his liver.

“Holding a benefit is the least we could do for someone who has always gone out of his way to help others,” said Gary Dauer, who is married to Rick’s sister, Glenda. The Dauers own and operate the Bear’s Den. “Rick would be the first one at your door if you needed anything,” Gary added.

With mounting hospital bills and chemotherapy costs that must be paid for up front, Glenda is hoping enough money can be raised to ensure that Rick will continue to receive chemotherapy as he needs it.

Rick’s parents, Don and June Hanson of Leader, paid for his first six rounds of chemo (each costs approximately $180); but they won’t be able to provide this help indefinitely.

Like many people in the United States, the Hansons, who are self-employed, have been unable to afford health insurance... which is one reason why Rick did not go to the doctor when he first started feeling ill about two years ago.

“I haven’t been able to work for about three years,” Rick said recently, at his home in Leader. “Three years ago, I was laid up for awhile when my leg was smashed (in a work-related incident). And then I started feeling sick and haven’t been able to work much at all.”

Together with his wife, Donna (whom he affectionately calls ‘Blondie’) Rick runs a farm and a saw-mill and has done manual work with a back-hoe.

Recently, the family had to sell most of their cows to help pay bills.

“I’m not complaining...I know there are a lot of people out there who have gone through this in the past,” Rick says, adding that he is grateful for the love and support he’s received from his family and friends in the community.

Maybe they should have gone to the doctor sooner, Donna says. “We just didn’t know...”

When he totally slept through Christmas, Rick agreed with his wife that it was time to see a doctor, he said.

Doctors at Lakewood Health System in Staples knew something was wrong; but it wasn’t until he had a colonoscopy at St. Cloud Hospital that Rick was officially diagnosed with cancer.

“We went back to Lakewood Jan. 10; and they immediately shipped him off to St. Cloud,” Donna said.

After spending three days at the St. Cloud Hospital, Rick returned to Lakewood where oncologist Dr. John Weitz took over his case.

“Doctors at Lakewood helped me get on the right track,” Rick said. “I’m thankful for that.”

He’s also thankful to his wife, Donna; and their children Jesse, Cody and Becky.

“I’ve also got a three-year-old grandson, Damien...Jesse and Teresa’s boy. He was a New Year’s Eve baby,” Rick shares.

Rick and Donna’s daughter, Emmi, died from physical complications when she was just two years old. “Her little brother, Cody, was born 37 days later,” Donna says, wiping a tear from her eye. “Emmi would have been 20 in August.”

A photo of Emmi hangs on a wall in an area Donna says they call ‘the angel cor ner.’

Yes, they’ve been through a lot; but the Hansons have had many blessings as well over the years, Rick says. “You learn as you go along through life,” he adds.

Living in the Leader area is something Rick cherishes. He can’t imagine calling any other place home.

“I was born and raised here. Mom and dad shelled out 10 kids in that house next door,” he says, motioning out the window to the home where Don and June still reside.

“There were five boys and five girls,” Rick shares, “I was the third to the youngest. We’re all still alive.”

Rick learned to farm and hunt from his dad. “We ate a lot of venison when I was growing up...mostly sold the beef.”

Although he attended Motley High School, Rick says most of his learning was done in a little cabin his dad built on the family acreage. “It’s located in what we call the foothills...I could spend hours out there. Very peaceful.”

If he has to be sick, this is the place to be, Rick says.

He also learned a lot about being a good neighbor, Rick said, from the people on farms and ranches near Leader.

“Peter Achermann is my godfather,” Rick says, reminiscing about the elderly gentleman from Leader who disappeared last July. “There’s no one like Peter. He taught me so much over the years.”

Yes, he’s got a lot to live for, Rick says.

“I’ve got a wonderful wife and kids. I call them ‘the three amigos.’ They’ve had to put up with a lot from me lately,” Rick says.

“Blondie and I have been married 27 years...we met at a dance in Leader,” Rick shares. “It was at the 64-Spot...Fred Daily owned the place at the time.”

He can’t say enough good about his parents, in-laws (Fred and Hazel Fleisher of Staples) or his siblings.

“Glenda and Gary have stopped by every day to check up on us...they’ve been awesome,” Rick says.

Donna says they have also received a lot of support from their church, Swan Valley Lutheran of Leader. “We’re grateful,” she adds.

Throughout his interview with this reporter, Rick remained upbeat, offering a smile and insisting on serving his guest coffee and fresh caught fish with spicy raspberry sauce. “It’s Super Bowl Sunday... time for a party,” he says.

Yes, in spite of this apparent setback, Rick says he’s decided to just get down to living. “I’m going to whip this thing,” he says, flashing a smile at Blondie and the other two amigos.

The spaghetti dinner/auction benefit for Rick Hanson begins at noon on Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Bear’s Den.

To make a donation for the auction, call the Bear’s Den, 218-397- 2331; 64-Stop, 218-397-2412; Don and June Hanson, 218-397-2322; or Fred and Hazel Fleisher, 218-894-2504.