Lesley M. "Slim" Hansen

Les and his twin brother, Wes, had a childhood much like Huckleberry Finn. He loved amazing us with wild stories of their many adventures. As teenagers, the “fighting Hansen brothers,” Les, Wes and older brother Harold (better known as Slim, Fat and Lefty), made a name for themselves as boxers. In 1936, the Wapato Independent described Slim as “a little package of dynamite, if ever there was one.” He went on to win the Golden Gloves title.

Les graduated from Wapato High School and continued at Central Washington College of Education. He enlisted in the Army Air Force his senior year during World War II, immediately after Pearl Harbor. Only three months before leaving for the service, Les met his loving wife of 68 years, Ora, in college. After more than a year of romance by letter correspondence, they decided on a Friday of a furlough weekend to get married in Seattle on Saturday, and he returned to military duty in Sarasota, FL, on Monday. Ora followed soon after and they remained stationed there for three years.

After the war, they returned to Yakima where Les worked various building jobs and eventually started his own independent building company, Hubbard and Hansen Builders, with partner Homer Hubbard. Les built many fine houses, never using the same floor plan twice. Besides being a home builder, he was always helping others with projects. He built houses for his daughter and son-in-law, Kay and John Smoke in Carnation, WA, and his niece and her husband, Sue and Terry Raymond in Georgia, as well helping with many projects at church and for friends and neighbors. If you needed a job done, he would show up with his tool belt on ready to help.

He is survived by his wife Ora (Brons), twin brother Wes Hansen, sister Melba Sutherland, daughter and son-in-law Kay and John Smoke, four grandchildren (Christine Strait, Samantha Ishmael, Greta Smoke and Joe Smoke), five great grandchildren (Cha’uri, Andy, Andrekah, KaciAnne, and Samuel Jr.) and many beloved nieces and nephews. Les was preceded in death by his daughter, Anne Ishmael, three brothers and two sisters.

Dad had a great sense of humor and continued entertaining us with great stories even through his illness. As much as he enjoyed telling a good tale, he loved laughing along with others. It meant so much to Les and his family to have continued visits and laughs throughout his journey through Alzheimer’s.

He continued to lead an active life in his retirement through many volunteer projects with Habitat for Humanity and with his church. Entertaining his grandchildren was a great joy. The kids loved playing in the pool with Grandpa at his house and were so impressed with his back flips off the diving board, which he continued doing at 80 years old! A kid at heart, Grandpa was never too tired to play with his children or grandkids.

Les was a shining example of honesty, fairness, kindness and hard work. We will deeply miss his contagious chuckle, the warmth of his hand, and his gentle spirit.

A Memorial Service will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, February 3, at Englewood Christian Church (511 N. 44th Ave, Yakima, WA). In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Yakima Food Bank or Englewood Christian Church. Keith & Keith Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.