Bennett Roy Hansen

Bennett Roy Hansen was born in Helena, MT on July 25, 1945 to Lyle & Lyndall Hansen. He graduated from Helena High School, the University of Montana School of Journalism in 1968 and earned an MBA degree from Lamar University in Beaumont, TX in 2000. Ben was the eternal student, also taking classes to learn Japanese, fueled by his membership in the Beaumont Sister City program with Beppu, Japan. He also took many art classes at Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ.

Ben began his journalism career as a reporter for the Associated Press in Los Angeles, CA. He returned to Montana to work as the editor of the People’s Voice in Helena. He then moved to Spokane, WA to work for the Spokesman-Review. In 1972 he began an 11 year association with Hagadone Newspapers working as a reporter and editor for their newspapers in Kalispell, MT, Moses Lake, WA, Oregon City, OR and Provo, UT. In 1983 he was hired by Hearst Newspapers as Editor of the Beaumont Enterprise. Ben completed his journalism career as Executive Editor of Prescott Newspapers, Inc., a division of Western News&Info, Inc. in 2010. During his career he earned numerous journalism awards and many accolades for his community service. Ben was a US Jaycee in Oregon and Utah and a member of Rotary in Beaumont and Prescott, taking on leadership roles. He served on many community organization boards, always being the go-to person to “get the job done”. In his retirement Ben continued to pursue his hobbies of leatherwork and painting.

Ben married Barbara Bateson from Billings, MT on June 20, 1970. They moved back to Texas in 2019 to be near their 2 sons, and is survived by Josh Hansen (wife Donna) and Tyler Hansen (wife Ashley), grandchildren Rhys, Alyssa, Keller and Greyson, along with many close relatives and friends that he cherished. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date for Ben. In memory of Ben you may send donations to the 100 Club of Southeast Texas, P.O. Box 3405, Beaumont, TX 77704. Ben was a founding member in 1989.