Leif Hansen

Leif Hansen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark on March 28, 1936, and his childhood memories revolved around playing soccer and attending school whenever and wherever possible during the wartime occupation of Denmark. In 1956, after completing his military service, he followed his father and stepmother to Canada: working in Lynn Lake, Manitoba, he met his lifelong friends Peter and Mary Korotash. Mary suggested that he correspond with her sister Hilda, who was at teacher’s college in Winnipeg, to improve his English. He sent her a photo and she thought this handsome fellow looked like Elvis.

Leif and Hilda married on July 8, 1959 and enjoyed many years together and several relocations in Western Canada for Leif’s work as an industrial electrician. They raised three daughters, Sandra, Carrie and Lisa, who inherited their dad’s love of travel, his fondness for food and wine, and a good joke. They also learned all the words to every ABBA song on long car trips. Leif cherished his five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, as well as his many friendships, especially his Masonic brethren.

Leif first joined Freemasonry in the Lynn Lake Lodge in the 1970s, and was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was an active member, and honorary member, of several lodges across Canada. In his affiliation with Concord Lodge in Calgary, he was Worshipful Master in 1991, and served as Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of Alberta. With Assiniboia Lodge in Portage la Prairie, he served as the Grand First Principal of the Grand Chapter of Manitoba in 2002 and was President of the Manitoba Council of the Order of High Priesthood. With Beacon Lodge in Red Deer, Leif attained the rank of Very Worshipful Brother with the title of Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of Alberta. In April 2025, Leif was proud to be installed as the Grand Master of the Grand Council of Cryptic Rite Masons of Western Canada.  In the few months that he was in the position of Grand Master, he continued to visit many of the Councils under his direction, and his brothers gave him great support in his final illness.

Leif was predeceased by his wife Hilda in 2017, and is survived by Sandra (Gerald), Carrie (Bondy), Lisa (Lorne) and their families, who will remember Morfar as the guy with a funny accent who always had candy for them. A celebration of life will be held in Red Deer in fall 2025; details will be shared here.

The Hansen family thanks everyone for their kind wishes.

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