A Celebration of Life for 72-year old Dana Hanna will be held Memorial Day weekend on Sat, May 25, 2024 at 2:00 at The Rushmore, 445 Mt. Rushmore Rd., Rapid City, SD.
Memorials will go to “The Innocence Project,” 40 Worth St, Suite 701, New York, NY, 10013, which will continue Dana’s desire to champion the underdog, the underserved, and the forgotten.
Sympathy cards for the family may be sent to: Iris Dillon & Daughters at PO Box 3080, Rapid City, SD 57709.
Online condolences may be left at siouxfuneralhome.com
Dana LaRue Hanna was born on Dec 20th, 1950, in York, NE, to Leslie Dale Hanna and Donabelle (Garner) Hanna. Dana made his journey to the spirit world on Nov 11th, 2023, in Rapid City, SD, after a recent illness.
Dana graduated from York High School in 1969, Colorado University in 1974, and the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1977. After serving as the Custer County State’s Attorney in Broken Bow, NE, he moved to New York City where he practiced criminal defense for 15 years.
Dana moved to South Dakota and went to work for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. He was the Public Defender for 5 years, then the tribe’s Attorney General for another 5 years.
Dana went back to private practice in 2007 in Rapid City and continued until his death. His legal career included successfully defending criminal cases in both Federal and State courts.
He also handled ICWA – Indian Child Welfare Act cases for 4 SD Sioux Tribes, and pursued civil rights protections of children harmed by the actions and inactions of school districts.
Renowned for his exceptional skills as a trial lawyer, Dana’s unwavering commitment to justice and his indomitable spirit made him a formidable force in the legal arena.
Colleagues, opponents, and clients alike regarded Dana as a legal titan who approached each case with unparalleled dedication and skill.
He was a member of the state bar associations in South Dakota, Nebraska and New York, and will leave a legacy through the cases he championed, the lives he touched, and the principles of justice he upheld.
Outside the courtroom, Dana had a great love of books, traveling, gourmet restaurants, a fine cigar paired with scotch whiskey and great conversations with close friends.
He also studied the Koran and taught himself Spanish and Italian.
Dana Hanna leaves behind the love of his life Iris Dillon; daughters Aleesia and Alayna, both of Rapid City; brothers David B (Lucie) and Douglas D (Linda), both of Lincoln, NE, Derk D (Gina) of Platte City, MO, and Ron Skaden (Barbara) of York, NE,
Dana also leaves behind his Hunka son Kody Horned Antelope; his devoted paralegal Diana LaMunyon, and countless loyal friends.
Honorary pallbearers will be All Friends & Relatives.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD