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Lars Hanson was the founder of Walnut Grove and the first person townsmen checked with when they needed a job or to sell their farms. He was also a town elder.

He was a good friend of Charles, Doc Baker, Reverend Alden, and Nels.

His last appearance is when the Ingalls, Garvey, and Oleson families return to Walnut Grove to find it a ghost town. The only members of the town remaining are a very sick Hanson and Doc Baker. Hanson is very depressed about how his town was abandoned. He tells Charles that there is no way he could bring it back to its glory.

When Charles manages to get everyone back, Reverend Alden holds the first church service to celebrate the town's recovery. Everyone is amazed when Hanson manages to make it to the service. At the end of the episode, the narrator, Laura, tells of how he died just a few months later.

Behind the scenes[]

Lars Hanson was portrayed by actor Karl Swenson in all of his appearances.

Background Information[]

  • Lars Hanson's (Karl Swenson) last appearance in the series was in Season 5, Episode 6 (There's No Place like Home Part 2).
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