Dakota Dawn "Cody" Hansen , 49, rural Ryder and formerly of rural Granville died on Monday, October 19, 2015 in a Minot hospital from respiratory complications related to pneumonia.

Dakota Dawn Brandt was born on May 21, 1966 in Rugby to Dale and Beverly (Cargo) Brandt and was reared on a ranch east of Granville. She graduated from Granville High School where she was an excellent basketball player. She received a basketball scholarship from Lake Region Junior College where she was a member of the 1985 team that participated in the national championship. Following her education, she returned to the Granville area where she was employed by a regional highway contractor, Minot Livestock Auction and RCC Western Store.

Cody married Kevin Hansen on June 15, 1990 at First Lutheran Church in Granville. They had since made their home on a ranch in Vang Township of Ward County north of Ryder.

Cody was a member of Rose Valley Lutheran Church, WELCA, North Dakota Stockmen's Association, American Simmental Association, and the North Dakota Simmental Association where she served as a director. Cody was a member of the Roughrider Rodeo Association where she was a six-time breakaway roping champion and she was also a state champion arm wrestler. She served as the girls basketball coach for Berthold High School and North Shore-Plaza High School. She was a member of the Ward County 4-H council and a leader for the Prairie Tumbleweeds 4-H Club. Cody's passion was helping youth. She enjoyed mentoring youth on the basketball court, in the show ring, and assisting 4-H members with their projects. Cody also enjoyed gardening, knitting, baking and spending time with family and friends. Cody had a keen eye for livestock and enjoyed assisting her family with livestock shows across the region and was well known for her delicious brownies.

Cody's loving family includes her husband of 25 years Kevin; children: Wyatt and Hadlie; mother: Beverly Brandt of Surrey; mother-in-law and father-in-law: Marcy and Kermit Hansen of rural Ryder; siblings: Terry (Nikki) Brandt of McLaughlin SD, Shelby (Rhonda) Brandt of Granville, Stacey (Joey) Wald of Surrey; sister-in-law: Susan Brandt of Surrey; in-laws: Kari (Kelly) Nygaard of Minot, Loren Hansen (Karen Garwood) of Webster MN and Lynae (Greg) Lardy of West Fargo; nieces: Tanya, Shannon, Kinley, Jordyn, Britney, Madison, JaeLyn and Taylor; nephews: Stetson, Landon, Levi, Tate, Wyett, Dalton, Jacob, Jarrett, Ty and great nephew: Ames.

Cody was preceded in death by her son Braxton, father Dale Brandt and grandparents: Henry and Cora Brandt and Clyde and Virginia Cargo.

Celebration of the Life of Cody Hansen: Saturday, October 24, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. in Christ Lutheran Church - Minot.
Public Prayer Service: Friday, October 23, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. in Christ Lutheran Church - Minot.
Visitation: Friday from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
Graveside Service: Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in Rose Valley Lutheran Church Cemetery - rural Des Lacs.
In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials are preferred to Ward County 4-H Scholarship Fund, Rose Valley Lutheran Church, or North Dakota Stockmen's Association Foundation Scholarship Fund.