Jean Hansen

1922 - 2025

Jean Christensen Hansen passed away peacefully on October 1, 2025 in Corvallis, Ore., just three months shy of her 103rd birthday. While her family mourns her passing, we are at peace knowing she lived a long, joyful life and is no longer dealing with the challenges of her amazing number of years.

Jean was born on December 27, 1922, in Springfield, Mass., the youngest of four sisters.

Her earliest years were spent happily making memories doing dance, piano, raising pets, and playing with many lifelong friends. Later, she and her sisters worked at her father's restaurant during the war. At the end of the war the family moved to Denmark, but returned to the U.S. after about a year. Back in Massachusetts, Jean worked in clothing stores and then at a bank where she became one of the first female loan officers in the state.

After marrying Arne Hansen in 1960, the two moved between Corvallis and the east coast a number of times torn between family they loved and the state they loved, finally settling for good in Corvallis in 1976.

During this time Jean worked at a bank, at the OSU library and bookstore, and as the accountant for her husband's small engines business. She also volunteered at the OSU thrift shop, at local nursing homes, and did a ton for St. Mary's Catholic Church, all while raising their two daughters Linda and Debbie.

After Arne's passing in 2007 Jean continued her outreach until moving in with her daughter Linda in 2013 where she lived out her days joyfully surrounded by family and their dog, Lucy.

Jean was predeceased by her parents, Frederick and Alice Christensen; her husband, Arne; her daughter, Debbie Railsback; and her sisters, Connie (Henning), Shirley (Victor), and Florence (Ray). She is survived by her daughter, Linda Skaar (husband Brian); son-in-law, Mark Railsback; grandchildren, Audrey (Blair), Conlin (Jessica), Bryson (Katelyn), Dana, and Noelle (Eli); and two great grandchildren.

A service will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Corvallis on October 25th at 11 a.m. followed by a small reception at the church commons room.