Benjamin Gustav Hanson passed away November 11, 2007, he was 81. He was born in Williston, North Dakota on July 3, 1926. He was the youngest of the six children of Hilda and Gustav Hanson. Ben was preceded in death by his mother Hilda and father Gustav and his step father Ove Gulbranson and his three brothers Samuel, Dr. Erling, Dr. Joseph, sister Sylvia, niece Susan Lutnes and his wife of 57 years Doris (Steiro). Ben was the son of a Lutheran minister. When Ben was very young his family moved to Stanwood Washington to run the Josephine Sunset Nursing Home. Ben graduated from Stanwood High School and entered the military at the end of WWII. He went to Pacific Lutheran College where he met his wife Doris. Ben went on to graduate from law school at the University Of Washington. Upon graduation he opened his law practice in Tacoma Washington. Ben entered local politics and was elected to the Tacoma City Council and appointed by the council as the then youngest mayor of Tacoma in 1958. He was later elected mayor of Tacoma by popular vote in 1960. He completed his term in 1962 and left politics for his private law practice until his retirement. Ben and his wife Doris had a very active social life and many long enduring friendships. Ben is survived by his sister, Betty Lutnes; daughters, Kristi Abegglen (Walter), Rebecca Christian; son Gerhard (Hardy) Hanson (Ann); grandchildren, Jennifer Routh, Ryan Abegglen, Brett Abegglen, Lindsey Williams (Jack), Samuel Christian, Sara Hanson, Rachel Hanson; and great grandchildren, Ben and Luke Williams. Graveside service will be held Saturday, November 17th at 10:00AM at the New Tacoma Cemetery followed at 12:00PM by a memorial service and luncheon at St. Marks Lutheran Church by the Narrows. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to the St. Marks Lutheran Church by the Narrows Memorial Fund, 6730 N. 17th St., Tacoma.


Published in the News Tribune (Tacoma) on 11/14/2007.