Patsy Hansen

1931 - 2021

Patsy Hansen
Patsy L. Hansen passed away on August 25, 2021, in the comfort of her son Andy's home. She was 90 years old.
Patsy was born April 28, 1931, in Renton, Washington to Carl Reckling and Violet Rowe Reckling. She attended school in the Renton WA. Graduating from Renton High School in 1949 then attended the College of Central Washington (CWU). She met the love of her life Darrell Hansen at a meeting of the Renton Ranahans where she drove up in her father's cute little Studebaker and caught Dads' eye. They both had a mutual love of horses and riding. The love of each other and horses led to their marriage April 18, 1951, in Renton. They had just celebrated 69 years of marriage this past year. Four kids and 69 years later, we think it worked out.
Pat loved all animals especially horses and dogs. She had many friends that would let her ride their horses until she finally wore her dad down and he bought "Roamer" her first horse. He earned his name Roamer because he would invariably get out of his pasture and roam the countryside. He was also known for not letting anyone catch him. Once Mom would ask me to go catch Roamer for her. He would run from one side of the pasture to the other and let me get a foot or so away and run away until I would just sit down and cry and then he would come up to me and let me catch him. Pat loved Roamer and always had a dog or horse with her.
At one point in their marriage, Mom and Dad lived in Fall City followed by a move to North Bend, Washington. Pat worked as a receptionist at the Redmond Veterinary Hospital during this time period.
Mom and Dad spent quite a while looking for property in the Cle Elum, and Ellensburg areas. The place they settled on (and could afford) was out near the end of Badger Pocket outside the town of Kittitas, WA. It was 160 acres with an old run-down house with no real outbuildings to speak of. It did not take them long to build several small buildings and a barn. Son Andy's memory of the farm was "Dad had a cow that had calved during a really cold freezing day. They went out to get the cow and calf in and he used mom as a decoy so he could get the cow out of the way so he could get to the calf and bring it into the house and put by the fire to thaw out." They ultimately sold that farm and moved into the town of Kittitas and built a new house. During June of 1979 Pat joined and was one of the original members of the "Ellensburg Silver Spurs" ladies mounted horse drill team. She/they Participated in mounted Drill team competitions, parades, Ellensburg Rodeo Posse Shows.
It seemed like life was an "ongoing adventure" for Pat and Darrell. Not letting any grass grow under their feet, they moved and finally settled in Sequim, WA. Mom and Dad were like early settlers. They bought raw land in Sequim and proceeded to build a huge garage/shop, and several outbuildings. They also had a house built on the property. It was clear, not so sure the outbuildings for the horses, mule, and the many of their cats and dogs, got built first and the house second. It seemed through their entire life together, the animals always came first. While in Sequim Mom and Dad spent many hours volunteering their time on work crews for Clallam County and volunteered for trail Maintenance of a segment of the Olympic Discovery Trail.
Pat was preceded in death by her husband Darrell, (February 2021), parents, sister Gloria Nichols. She is survived by children Julia (John) Sorensen Ellensburg, WA, Stuart (Marsha) Hansen, Maple Valley, WA and Yuma, AZ, Edward (Cristine) Hansen Tucson, AZ, Andrew Hansen Cle Elum, WA. Grandchildren Aimee (Billy) Hanson Ellensburg, WA, Abbi Sorensen, Rusty Beaver Checotah, OK, Kristi (Roland) Schirrmacher Boise, ID, Eric (Paige) Sorensen Ellensburg, WA, Joshua Hansen Maple Valley, WA, Bailey (Shaila) Hansen Cle Elum, WA, Ashley Hansen Cle Elum, WA. Great Grandchildren Jace and Dain Schirrmacher, Hadlee and Haylee Hanson, Elizabeth (Ellie) and Payton Sorensen, Scarlet and Fallon Jo Hansen.
A private family celebration of life later will be held at a later date.
Online condolences may be left at www.brooksidefuneral.com.
Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family.