06/15/2026
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The Hanska Historical Society is Officially Established
By Kristen Moore
In the spring of 2025, Larry Harbo had the idea of hosting a gathering of community members
who were interested in the history of Hanska. He had no idea how many would attend and stated he had no expectations, only “hopes, dreams, and plans.” Twenty-eight people gathered at that first meeting at the community center. Over the following months, the plan for an official
historical society began to take shape as Larry realized there was indeed a significant interest in
local history.
In October of 2025, a group of individuals with a strong passion to maintain the rich history of
Hanska for future generations formed a steering committee. In the firsts steps towards formation
of an official society, the committee stated their mission and purpose was to discover, collect, and preserve artifacts and records from within the town and its surrounding area. With the help of attorney Jermey Berg, the steering committee drafted, edited, and formalized bylaws and articles of incorporation into official documents to be filed with the state of Minnesota.
One year after that first gathering, Larry’s idea has turned into reality. After months of planning
via emails and zoom meetings over the winter, the Hanska Historical Society has officially been
established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The initial board of directors held its first
organizational meeting on April 26, 2026 at the community center. The board consists of Larry
Harbo, Joel Botten, Bruce Lammars, Jenny Mosenden, Dave Nelson, Dianne Osborne, Nita
Gilbert, Dan Paulson, and Kristen Moore. The organization’s bylaws and articles of incorporation
were reviewed and approved by all present. The board elected five officers to the executive
committee: Larry Harbo as president, Joel Botten as president emeritus, Nita Gilbert as vice
president, Bruce Lammers as treasurer, and Jenny Mosenden as secretary. Joel Botten, respected local historian, was elected president emeritus in honor of his significant historical contributions and wealth of knowledge about Hanska history. A program committee was also formed at the meeting with the mission of planning and implementing future community events and education.
“Much planning and work lies ahead of the board, especially in the coming year,” said Larry. The directors will meet again in May to discuss plans for opening membership to the community and to discuss upcoming events for the city’s 125th anniversary celebration this August. The Hanska Historical Society plans to host displays of family histories and an all-school reunion at the community center, as well as a driving history tour of the area.
For those who are passionate about Hanska history and would like to become a member of the
Hanska Historical Society updates will be available soon.
