Rolfe H. Hanson

Rolfe Hanson was often asked if he had lived his entire life in Stoughton, to which his favorite response was, “Not yet.” The story reflects his wit and humor, but those qualities tell only part of the story of a man whose life became deeply intertwined with the community he called home.

Rolfe Hjalmer Hanson was born in Stoughton on February 2, 1897, the son of H.T. and Idabelle Hanson. His father served as mayor of Stoughton from 1890 to 1892, and Rolfe would develop his own lifelong interest in the affairs, history, and people of his hometown.

A World War I veteran, Rolfe served in the U.S. Navy as a Seaman Second Class before becoming involved with the American Legion during the organization's early years in Stoughton. In December 1923, members of Otis Sampson Post elected him Commander for 1924. Serving with him were Alvin Loverud as First Vice Commander, Oswald Homme as Second Vice Commander, Thomas Rippchen as Adjutant and Financial Officer, and Alvin Everson as Chaplain. It was still a formative period for Post 59, which was preparing to move into larger quarters in the Hyland Block as its membership and role in the community continued to grow.

Rolfe remained dedicated to veterans throughout his life. He was a charter member of Stoughton VFW Post 328 and a member of the Stoughton Barracks, an organization for World War I veterans. His involvement with these organizations reflected a connection to the generation with whom he had served.

On March 20, 1920, Rolfe married Dorothy Sobota. Their marriage lasted 57 years until Dorothy's death in 1977. They raised their family in Stoughton, where Rolfe also established himself as a businessman and newspaperman.

He worked as a reporter for the Stoughton Courier-Hub before operating Hanson's Print Shop, which became a fixture in the community for approximately three decades. After retiring from the print shop, he returned to the Courier-Hub as an editor and columnist.

His column, “Our Town,” was aptly named. Rolfe did more than report events; he wrote about the character of Stoughton and the people who made it home. His familiarity with the community, combined with his sense of humor and appreciation for local history, allowed him to preserve stories and observations that might otherwise have been lost.

Rolfe's civic involvement extended well beyond veterans organizations and journalism. He served as president of the Stoughton Rotary Club and was active with the Stoughton Historical Society, Sons of Norway, and the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce, where he also served as president. When Stoughton's Syttende Mai celebration was revived in 1952, Rolfe served on the committee that helped plan the festival.

His interest in Stoughton's history continued late into his life. Shortly before his death, he completed “A History of Stoughton Government, 1868–1983,” documenting more than a century of local government and the challenges faced by generations of city officials.

Rolfe Hanson died November 8, 1985, at the age of 88. A Stoughton Courier-Hub editorial published following his death described the loss simply: “Stoughton lost one of its best friends and biggest supporters last week.”

It was a fitting description of a man who had spent nearly nine decades not merely living in Stoughton, but helping shape, document, preserve, and celebrate it.

And in the end, Rolfe's old answer proved true. When asked whether he had lived his entire life in Stoughton, the answer really was, “Not yet.”