born in tetonia, idaho, hansen graduated from ricks college (now brigham young university-idaho) in 1956 and did graduate work at idaho state university. he served in the u.s. air force from 1951 to 1954 and the u.s. naval reserve from 1964 to 1970. hansen moved to alameda, idaho, and was established as a life insurance salesman by 1958.