William Lewis Hanson

William Hanson Obituary

William Lewis Hanson

October 1, 1924-October 14, 2012

Bill passed away peacefully of heart failure at Virginia Mason Hospital.

He was born at home to missionary parents Victor and Lucia Hanson in Shanghai, China. He returned to the United States in 1937 where he attended Redlands University and Harvard Law School, Class of 1950. While in Boston he met and married Elen Stella. They moved to Seattle where Bill was the Peace Education Secretary for the American Friends Service Committee. After being admitted to the Washington bar he practiced law in Seattle. Highlights of his career include arguing before the Washington State Supreme Court for Muckleshoot tribal fishing rights and counseling many conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War. Bill and Elen traveled extensively, including flying on the SST to Paris. A man of great intellectual curiosity, his lifelong quest was for world peace and social justice.

Bill is survived by his daughters Raina Ballard and Vicki Berman, grandchildren David Kraljevich, Robin Ballard, Lucia Ballard, Travis Berman, and Madeline Berman. Bill was preceded in death by his wife Elen and daughter Emily Kraljevich McMullen.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 27, at 1:00 PM at University Friends Meeting, 4001 9th Ave NE, Seattle.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Seattle Times from Oct. 20 to Oct. 21, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for William Hanson

9 Entries

David Lumsdaine

November 17, 2012

Bill was a wonderful friend of our family for over 40 years, working with John, David, and Peter and with our father, Art Lumsdaine, on a variety of peace projects. Bill's insight, balance, and wide-ranging mind were an inspiration. He contributed greatly, wherever he was, and was a wonderful friend to many.

In the last couple decades, Bill helped me through my parents' illness, and after their deaths. We also discussed chinese art, philosophical subjects, public affairs, peace, poverty, the Tao De Ching, the history of quakerism, Bill's life, and the Bible. Bill had a great interest, especially in the last 10 years or so, in the Bible and about Jesus, and the Christian heritage; and we used to think about these things and discuss them often.

More than anything, though, I miss Bill himself. I long for the many talks we had, and the chance to be with him.

Rest in peace, dear friend.
God's blessing be upon you!

October 31, 2012

this candle is for you my friend, my encouragement, you taught me it is never too late, i chose this candle as the colours are like you were bright and beautiful, love, erin O'neal

Erin O'Neal

October 31, 2012

i cant believe he is gone, my best friend, like a father to me, he taught me alot about law, and that being gentle in a cruel world is not a weakness, he helped me to find self worth from age 18, i am now 53, we spoke every other night or sometime during the week after he moved to Norse home, we spoke of society, law, self esteem, china, and loving the world, he had a great love of huan kind, and was deeply spritual without needing a building to worship, he introduced me to the quarkers and buddhisim, both of which i incorpprated into my life, i went to jim for counsel when things in my family of origin were not good, he gave me the love of a father, the friendship of a father, he knew my family very well, they are all gone now except my brother , he helped me when my mom passed away, for a good portion of my life he has been there , now he is gone, his ideas and spirit will live in my heart forever, his wisdom i will pass along to others, and i am sad that he wont physically see me graduate fom law school, i just found out today and i am shock a bit but he is with God, his beautiful spirit is a perfect lotus he will reincarnate to another beautiful life i believe, he was the only father figure i had , and i am so sad, but happy that he is not in pain, he was very active, and encouraged me to travel, he had a beautiful life here may thenext one be even more beautiful, may we all meet him again in the spirit world and rejoice for he was my greatet friendtove to you bill and blessed be your daughters and grand children. see you later bill love,we know it is never really goodbye, so much love forever to my surrogate papa Erin O'Neal

Lao Tzu

October 24, 2012

Tolerant like the sky,
all-pervading like sunlight,
firm like a mountain,
supple like a branch in the wind,
he has no destination in view
and makes use of anything
life happens to bring his way.

Nothing is impossible for him.
Because he has let go,
he can care for the people's welfare
as a mother cares for her child.

October 24, 2012

Bill Hanson was a major influence upon many members of the World Peace Through Law section, WSBA. His life in itself and in its public achievements indicated what an Attorney at Law should look like and be like, exactly as per the standards of a pretty much minority from the older generation, resolving the conundrum described, e.g.
by Sol Linowitz in his book on this.
Au revoir Bill, excellent friend.

October 21, 2012

My dearest friend for 30 years, he was like a father to me and I felt as a good son would as I helped him write his autobiography

Scott McClelland

October 20, 2012

Bill became such an important part of our family when he met my mother, Jean, at Norse Home. Her life completely turned around and was given new purpose when she met Bill. Bill's lively and intellectually curious spirit was at once inspirational and magnetic to all who came into contact with him. He will always be remembered in our family with great fondness and love. We miss him terribly. Thank you Raina and Vicki for sharing your wonderful father with us.

Erik Brakstad

October 20, 2012

Bill and my father both moved to Norse Home in 2008. My father was able to successfully transition to his new life in Seattle - and I think his finding someone like Bill was a big part of it. Bill and my father hit it off from the beginning. Good friends are important at any phase of life, but it has been so fortunate that they had such quality companionship at this stage...

Bill still had a curiosity about the world despite the fact that he knew so much about so much. He told stories in an engaging way - often of his time in China. When I sat at the table and shared a meal with him, the conversation could veer in any number of directions. He was warmly interested in me and my family, and I always looked forward to seeing him when we visited.

I had the privilege of being at Norse Home to celebrate Bill's 88th birthday not long ago. It was a festive occasion, with Chinese food and good wine. Bill was in fine form and clearly enjoyed himself.
And now he's gone.

While I think about the void he leaves at Norse Home, and I have to remind myself to focus on how lucky we were to have him in our lives these past four years. R.I.P. Bill - I have a lot of respect for you

Robert S. Lumsden

October 20, 2012

You once told me " your witness is crucial" and that has guided my life in all ways.You spoke a simple truth that is universal, Thank you ! Bill.

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