Marie Hansen

Marie Hansen

M. Marie Hansen passed away on January 10, 2013, in Seattle. Born in Chicago in 1922 to James and Addis Bjelland, Marie and her family moved to Seattle in 1927. Marie graduated from Lincoln High School where she met her high school sweetheart, Lyle Hansen. They eloped in 1942. Their first child, Steve, was born in 1943, several months before Lyle joined the Navy.

After Lyle returned home safely from the war, Marie helped him design and build their first house in Shoreline. Their second son, Perry, was born in 1946, followed by David in 1950 and Brian 1952. They moved to Vashon Island in 1959.

Marie and Lyle took up sailing and became active members of Quartermaster Yacht Club, where Lyle served as Commodore. Later, over a 13-year period, Marie helped build their 40-foot ferro-cement ketch, Starfire, which they launched in 1981.

When her sons were mostly grown, Marie went to work at Vashon Library, a lifetime dream of hers. As she told the local newspaper on her retirement, "Ever since I was little, I've wanted to be a librarian and get a library key." Turning in her key after 20 years, she and Lyle spent 11 years wintering in San Diego. In 2004, they moved back to their waterfront home on Vashon full-time.

Marie was predeceased by her husband Lyle in 2007 and is survived by her four sons and their families: Steve (Ellen) of Seattle; Perry (Barbara) of Vashon; David, (Norman Normandin) of Victoria; and Brian (Wendy Bohlke) of Bellingham. She was blessed with 5 grandchildren: Jennifer Schill, Nikki Wheeler, Brady Hansen, Nels Hansen and Jon Hansen, and 5 great-grandchildren. She is survived by her sisters, Myrtis Hurd of Bothell and San Diego and Elaine Johnson of Atlanta, her sister-in-law, Pat Schjelland, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Marie lived at University House Wallingford for 3 years, and spent her last months in loving care at the Hearthstone at Green Lake. A memorial service will be held on February 2, 2013, 2:00 pm, at University Lutheran Church, 1604 Northeast 50th Street, Seattle. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be sent to the King County Library Foundation, 960 Newport Way NW, Issaquah, WA 98027.