REFLECTIONS

He invested 38½ years of his life to serving people, and most notable was his friendly service at Jim’s Standard.

James Hansen’s gas station was located on Highway 218 South in Blooming Prairie, where he also lived.

Another businessman who was well known in many circles was Nolan Christianson. He proved he could sell and also work tirelessly.

Both of these men passed away suddenly in December, leaving footprints that many will follow.

Jim was born Dec. 14, 1942. He died Dec. 28, 2025. Jim maybe knew more people in Blooming Prairie than any other living person.

Jim worked devotedly on the Hansen family farm as a young man.  His parents were Anhart and Ina Hansen. While in high school, Jim worked for Ditlevson Farms.

The marriage bells sounded loudly for Jim and Pat on April 3, 1965, in Austin, they were blessed with a son Brian. He resides in Austin.

Jim worked at the Standard station before he purchased it in 1965. He was drafted into the U.S Army during that same year. Jim raced stock cars for one year before he entered the U.S. Army.

Jim loved to fish. He and brother Terry were fishing partners. Judy and I got to sample some of his tasty morsels. The brothers Jim and Terry checked in on one another each morning.

Jim loved his large family. He also enjoyed his caring neighbors. Jim was the benefactor of many leftovers from neighbor Judy Lestrud.

Just two days before his death, Jim graciously presented a large Dairy Queen cake to Judy and I to enjoy. Jim also took a similar size DQ cake to son Brian and his friends at a group home in Austin.

Hansen lived up to his nickname of “Silent Jim.”

Christianson was another friend of many. He held many jobs in the Blooming Prairie area. Both Jim and Nolan were Awesome Blossoms, graduating from BPHS.

How Nolan and his wife, Linda, first got together is up for debate, as both claim one had “chased after” the other. However, the chase ended on June 14, 1969, when they married at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church.

They started their married life and soon after bought a house in Blooming Prairie, ultimately never leaving the town they cherished. Together they were blessed with their three children, Tonya, Aaron, and Lianna.

Nolan was not like his “silent” friend. He was the opposite.

Nolan could sell anything and everything. Over the years, he worked in the kitchen at Lansing Corners, as an orderly at St. Mary’s, driving school bus, selling insurance and televisions, working at Hormel Foods, being the owner of Nolan’s Interiors on Main Street in Blooming Prairie, and working at the Rochester Post Bulletin, just to scratch the surface.

Nolan retired doing advertisements for the Mower County Shopper. Outside of work, Nolan was a handyman, helping his kids and grandkids build various projects.

He sat on the Udolpho Township Board, the Boys and Girls Club board, and church council, as well as teaching Sunday school.

Nolan was always surrounded by his family and large group of friends, and he held them in his heart dearly. His favorite people called him “grandpa”, and he rarely missed an opportunity to support his grandkids, throughout all of their many activities.

Nolan and Linda loved to travel, enjoying many road trips, camping adventures, and family vacations together. He was a family man to his core, and he will be forever missed by those who loved him.

Nolan was always welcoming guests at his home. He knew I liked Coke, and he could always find another Coke for his friend Howard.

His sense of humor was still strong, even though the volume was low.

These two individuals were very kind to anyone they met. Both will be missed.