Kathleen S Hanson

KATHLEEN SAMUELSON HANSON

Kathleen Hanson, 82, passed away December 9, 2015, in Olympia with her family by her side. Plans for a memorial service in early January are pending.

Kathleen is survived by her husband of 52 years, Rhys Hanson; daughter and son-in-law, Jill and Steve Reinmuth; grandchildren, Sam and Kate; sister and brother-in-law, Janice and Rex Heberden; niece, Arlene; and nephews, Marc and Ken.

Kathleen was born October 22, 1933, in Troy, Idaho, to Axel and Alice Samuelson. Her family moved in 1935 to Pullman, where she graduated from Pullman High School (’51) and Washington State University (’55). She also earned a Bachelor of Education from Eastern Washington University (’57). Her first teaching position was in Edmonds.

Kathleen and Rhys met while teaching in Richland. After marrying in 1963, their first home was in Richland, and their only child, Jill, was born there. They lived for several years in Longview, and then for 25 years in Vancouver. Kathleen worked for the regional library system before retiring in 1998 and moving to Olympia in 2000 to be close to Jill and Steve, and especially, to their grandchildren, Sam and Kate.

Kathleen was a child of God; an extraordinarily devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt; an exceptionally talented pianist and artist; an avid genealogist; an active volunteer for her church, parent-teacher groups, and Camp Fire; and an accomplished seamstress, gardener, and homemaker. She was an active member of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Lacey.