Neil Lee Hansen

Neil Lee Hansen, 74, of Boise, Idaho, passed away peacefully on October 23, 2026, surrounded by family and friends.

Neil was born on June 4, 1952, in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late Torben and Eileen Hansen. He grew up in the Cleveland area and attended Charles F. Brush High School in Lyndhurst, Ohio. He later attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and the University of Southern California, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.

Neil served in the United States Air Force from 1976 through 1982 as a Weather Equipment Specialist, stationed at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. During his service, he was awarded the Air Force Good Conduct Medal.

Following his military service, Neil worked for TRW in Los Angeles as a Member of the Technical Staff. He later moved to Boise, Idaho, to work for Micron, where he became a Senior Test Engineer. Boise became his home, and he enjoyed the area's nature and outdoors throughout his retirement.

Neil was a quiet, thoughtful, and very knowledgeable person who could carry on a conversation about almost any subject. He had a curious mind and a wide range of interests. He was also very generous with his time and was always willing to share his knowledge or lend a hand.

An avid runner, Neil competed in 5K and 10K road races and earned medals in many of them. His competitive spirit was especially evident during his days running on the track at Case Western Reserve University. He was also an avid gamer and a member of the United States Othello Association. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and the Four Sigma Society.

One particularly memorable adventure took place in 1984, when the Summer Olympics came to Los Angeles. Neil was working at TRW at the time and managed to get tickets to all of the track and field events. Since both brothers had run track in high school and college, Torben traveled to Los Angeles to share the experience with Neil. Together they watched some of the world's greatest athletes, including the memorable and controversial women's 3,000-meter final in which British runner Zola Budd collided with American favorite Mary Decker. During that visit, Neil also taught Torben how to sailboard. And, to top it all off, the brothers rented a bright yellow Ferrari 308 GTS for the day and spent the afternoon driving the winding roads outside Los Angeles, happily imagining themselves as Mario Andretti.

Some of the happiest memories shared by Neil, his brother Torben, and sister-in-law Leslie came from their many camping, canoeing, and fishing trips together. Among the adventures they remembered most fondly were their trip down the Mohigan River—“or should I say poling down”—and fishing trips on the Salmon River, the Rangeley Lakes, and Gulf Hagas. These adventures, along with countless other days spent outdoors, provided years of stories, laughter, and memories that will be cherished by his family.

Neil is survived by his brother, Torben Hansen, and sister-in-law, Leslie Hansen, of Norwell, Massachusetts, as well as cousins in Minnesota, Maine, Ohio, and Washington state.

Neil will be deeply missed by his family and friends. He will be remembered for his quiet nature, remarkable knowledge, competitive spirit, generosity, curiosity, love of the outdoors, and, most of all, for the many adventures, stories, and memories he shared with those who loved him.

The family welcomes donations in Neil's memory to Cure HHT, the Metropolitan Wind Symphony, or the Brockton Symphony Orchestra.