Willette Billy C. Carpenter Hansen

Willette "Billy" Hansen, 94, of Woodburn, Oregon, passed away peacefully on January 18th, 2014. She was born in Boulder Creek, California to John and Hester Carpenter on November 18th, 1919. She was one of 4 children. The family moved to Kelso, Washington where she lived throughout her childhood. After graduating from high school, she went on to secretarial school.

She married Winter Hansen on September 16th, 1939, and had 3 daughters. They lived in Kelso for several years, before moving to Portland, Oregon. While living in Portland, the family enjoyed activities such as: golfing, bowling, dog racing and visiting relatives.

During the war, she worked as a welder, earning her the nickname, "Willie the Welder". She went to work for Fibreboard where she worked for 20 years. She was instrumental in the formation of the Western Pulp and Paper Workers Union in Oregon and Washington, and worked for the union as a secretary for the majority of her career.

Family and friends, who loved Billy, will remember her independent nature, as well as her love of cats, gardening and playing Yahtzee and Bingo.

She is survived by her 3 daughters, Stephanie Hansen, Vicki Yochim, and Donna Malpass, as well as 6 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 30th, 2014 at 2pm at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 11801 SE Mt. Scott Blvd., Portland, OR 97086.