Charlotte “Char” Blanche Hagburg Hanson,

Charlotte B. Hanson

Charlotte “Char” Blanche Hagburg Hanson, age 94, passed away peacefully February 20, 2023, at EvergreenHealth Hospice Center in Kirkland, Washington; surrounded by the love of her family.

Charlotte was born in Gladstone, North Dakota on December 15, 1928, to Charles and Blanche Hagburg; she was the eldest of four children. The young family lived on her grandparents’ farm until moving to nearby Dickinson where Charlotte and her siblings grew up. She graduated from Dickinson High School and before marriage attended Dickinson State Teacher’s College (Dickinson State University). Charlotte was proud of her family’s pioneer ancestry, and enjoyed researching the Cryne, Enger, and Hagburg family history.

Charlotte lived in Minneapolis, Richfield, and Moorhead, Minnesota before moving to Fargo, North Dakota in 1961. A social and civic minded person, Charlotte originally studied to become a teacher. When her children were school age, she started working as a customer service representative at Northwest Bell Telephone in Fargo, and within a few short years was promoted to customer service supervisor, analyst, and chief analyst. Charlotte was active in local politics and was both a Cub Scout and Camp Fire Leader. She was a member of Olivett Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school for many years.

In 1967 Charlotte and her husband Ken moved the family to Bellevue and later Redmond, Washington where she lived for over 50 years. In Washington State she worked at Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone in Auburn and later General Telephone in Woodinville where she retired in 1991 as a customer service manager. To say she enjoyed her work is an understatement. She loved camaraderie, teamwork and serving her community. Charlotte often said she would work for free, if possible. She was a beloved supervisor and manager. Never one to want a lot of fuss, when asked what she would like for her retirement party she joked, “I don’t want a party unless there is a marching band.” Sure enough, and much to her surprise, the Woodinville High School Marching Band showed up on her last day of work and the local newspaper documented the event with an interview. Appropriately, the newspaper included a photograph of Charlotte acting as drum major, leading the band with a baton in hand.

As a long-term Redmond resident Charlotte volunteered for local charitable and scholarship organizations and was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church.

Charlotte loved to dress fashionably and was known for her poise, grace, and beautiful hats! She never left the house without wearing earrings, her trademark. She loved music and was a terrific dancer. So much so she won a Lindy Hop dance contest as a twenty-something young woman. Like other young women of her day, she loved Frank Sinatra; her admiration for him continued throughout her life. There were other crooners she enjoyed, but none like Frank!

She was a hands-on mother, and nothing was more important. Her kids are the first to admit it was hard to keep any secret from her; intuitively she always knew when a phone call was needed. She was the first they consulted when facing a difficult decision and the first to share happy news. Charlotte was a true matriarch and the rock of the family. As involved as she was in her kid’s life, she was equally involved in her grandchildren’s lives.

Charlotte is survived by her four children: Susan (Robert) Carlson, Charles (Carolyn) Hanson, Jill Hanson, and Craig (Merri) Hanson; seven grandchildren: Kyle (Jenny) Carlson, Shelby (Matt) Fontaine, Heather Hanson, Kelly Hanson, Matthew Hanson, Michael Hanson, and Christian Hanson; four great-grandsons: Carter and Andrew Carlson and Johnny and Zander Fontaine; brothers: Eugene Hagburg, James (Helen) Hagburg, and sister Joan Burlingham. Charlotte also leaves behind nieces, nephews, close friends, and former colleagues.

Charlotte is preceded in death by her husband of 41 years Kenneth Hanson, parents Charles and Blanche Hagburg, former husband H. Ned Hanson and beloved friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Faith Lutheran Church in Redmond, Washington on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at 2 pm. She will be buried near her parents and other family members at the Lutheran Pioneer Cemetery in Gladstone, North Dakota.

In memory of Charlotte, her family asks you to eat lots of ice cream and Hershey bars, dress in pink or purple, and dance to your favorite Frank Sinatra song.