13 things about Great Bend, Kansas native Ray Hanken

Raymond Lee “Ray” Hanken was a native of Great Bend, Barton County, Kansas, United States. The city is home to Barton Community College.

BIOGRAPHY

Hanken was an American farmer and stockman of German descent. He was born in Great Bend to Frederick George Hanken and Alice Ellen Horst Hanken, who got married in Holyrood, Kansas on May 4, 1935. 

Frederick was born in Albert, Kansas to George Heye Hanken and Sophia Agnes Schultz Hanken. George was born in Germany.

Ray had three children. Here are 13 more things about him:

1. From 1963 to 1980, he was a project manager for Allied-Shaffer and H.C. Smith Construction.
2. In 1963, he married Patricia J. “Pat” Freeburg Hanken.
3. Pat gave birth to their daughter Sonja Dee Hanken in 1964, their daughter Tonya Lea Hanken in 1967 and their son Terry Allen Hanken in 1973.
4. In 1972, his grandfather George died.
5. In 1975, his grandmother Sophie died.
6. In 1980, he moved to Hoisington, Kansas.
7. In 1982, his daughter Sonja married Steve Ritter.
8. In 1992, his father died.
9. In 2001, his father-in-law Verne Allen Freeburg died.
10. In 2004, his mother died.
11. In 2005, his mother-in-law Laura Mae Unruh Freeburg died.
12. In 2009, he retired and moved to Holyrood.
13. In 2017, he died at age 73.

TIMELINE

Ray was a member of Peace Lutheran Church. While employed as a project manager for Allied-Shaffer and H.C. Smith Construction, he and Pat lived in Warrensburg, Missouri, USA, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA, in Rapid City, South Dakota, USA, in Great Falls, Montana, USA, in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, in Burney, California, USA and in Sedalia, Missouri.

1960s

• On July 27, 1963, he married Pat at Peace Lutheran Church in Albert.
• On May 4, 1964, Pat gave birth to their daughter Sonja.

1970s

• His grandfather George turned 85 on February 15, 1971 and died on February 4, 1972.
• His grandmother Sophie turned 87 on November 18, 1974 and died on March 9, 1975.

1980s

• On July 24, 1982, his daughter and Ritter got married in Albert.

1990s

• His father turned 80 on February 9, 1992 and died in Great Bend on November 24, 1992.

2000s

• His father-in-law Verne turn 85 on September 16, 2000 and died in Great Bend on September 1, 2001.
• His mother turned 92 on July 26, 2004 and died in Holyrood on December 5, 2004.
• His mother-in-law Laura turned 89 on April 8, 2005 and died in Great Bend on May 10, 2005.

2010s

• His daughter Sonja turned 49 on May 4, 2013 and died in Hoisington on November 21, 2013.

2020s

• His granddaughter Tonya was caught on camera harassing a delivery driver named Cris Scandela, who posted the video on Instagram on September 23, 2025. The video went viral.