Harry Dean Hanson Jr. was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 12, 1947 to Harry Dean and Carrie Wanda Malmgren Hanson. He was number seven out of ten siblings with eight sisters and one brother. At an early age, Dean and his family moved to Huntington Beach, California where he played high school football and learned to surf. Dean went to UCLA and competed with the rowing crew for 3 years making it as far as the Olympic trials in 1968. During college, he enjoyed riding motorcycles and took many cross-country trips with friends.

Dean married his sweetheart Patricia Ann Rossner Hanson on November 13, 1976 in Cypress, California and they were later sealed in the Los Angeles Temple in 1981. Dean and Patty had six children, five girls and one long-awaited son.

Dean retired after working 40 years in the construction business, building homes, and doing disaster restoration. His favorite pastime was reading and compiling his large collection of sci-fi, fantasy, and western novels. Dean also enjoyed fishing, gardening, shooting guns, John Wayne movies, classic cars, astronomy, camping, card games and being in the company of his English Setters and Labs. Above all, Dean loved spending time with his grandchildren and family.

He is survived by his wife: Patricia Ann Rossner Hanson, his children: Kari Lorraine Hanson, Jenna Tricia Dodds (Phillip Dodds), Kaitlyn Dora Handley (Spencer Handley), Haley Jill Lewis (Ian Lewis), Lara Christie Hanson and Randon Dean Hanson as well as five grandchildren: Odin, Gunnar, Colson, Henry, Emmy, and nine siblings: Jean, Geri, Shirley, Mary, Carol, Joy, Venice, Jon and Bonny.

Funeral services will be held Friday, January 4, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. located at the Payson 2nd Ward, 274 South Main Street, Payson, Utah. Family and friends may visit from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to services at the church. Interment will be in the Payson City Cemetery.