Longtime Alaskan and Ninilchik, resident, Ms. Pauline Jean Hanson,84, passed into heavenly rest on Friday, June 20th, 2025, in Ninilchik, Alaska.

Pauline was born on June 3, 1941, in Concord, Massachusetts, to Arne and Thelma Murto. She was the first child in an eventual family of eight girls. Pauline traveled cross-country and up the early AL-CAN highway to Alaska with her parents and four younger sisters in 1949, in an old Mack Truck with a homemade camper. Their destination was Anchor Point, where the family homesteaded and where Pauline learned how to be strong and self-sufficient.

Pauline was a graduate of Kenai High School. Her adult life began by working in the family business, Scandinavian Village Inn, in Anchor Point. Pauline assisted her mother in the kitchen cooking, baking, and helping feed the many guests, which included Alaska Road Commission work crews. It was there that she met Gus Hanson, a road crew worker whom she later married.

Pauline and Gus obtained their own homestead in Ninilchik at what was then the end of Oil Well Road. Pauline found happiness and joy in building a life with Gus and raising their two children, Eric and Teresa.

She enjoyed and embraced all aspects of the homestead life and never shied away from the hard work it entailed. Pauline was a master gardener, canner, cook, and baker. She worked outside of the home as well, as a waitress and baker at the original Inlet View Café under Wayne and June Bishop, alongside her dear friend Edna Steik. Pauline continued to waitress at the Inlet View Later on for several years, and also did cannery work in both Ninilchik and Homer.

After Pauline lost her beloved husband Gus and became a single mother at the age of 40, she sought more permanent employment and was hired by the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. She worked as a custodian until her retirement.

Pauline enjoyed music and dancing, growing beautiful flowers, cooking, baking, canning and preserving, crosscountry skiing, fishing, going for walks, and staying busy and active. She was blessed to be able to remain living on her homestead until her death. Having her children and grandchildren near and having the love and support of her family meant everything to Pauline. She remained close with her sisters throughout her life.

Pauline will be remembered by her family, her many friends, and by everyone she met for her kind heart, her sincerity, and her gentle nature. She had a youthfulness about her and was a real gem inside and out. Pauline will be missed by all that knew her.

Pauline is survived by her son Eric (Zizi) Hanson of Ninilchik; daughter, Teresa Presley of Ninilchik; sisters, Virginia (Roy) Brown of Spearfish, SD, Norma Newman and Linda Rohlfing of Seattle, WA, Marianne Murto of Ninilchik, Ingrid (Mike) Jensen of Willow, AK, brother inlaw, Charles Grouws of Seattle, WA; granddaughter, Kayci Hanson and her husband Adam Christensen of Ninilchik, grandsons, Ying Ying Hanson of Ninilchik, Cody Presley of Anchorage and Tyler Presley and his fiancé’ Jordan Trappett of Ninilchik and cousins, nieces and nephews and numerous friends.

Pauline was preceded in death by her husband, Gus Hanson; sisters, Marjorie Murto and Ellen Grouws, and parents, Arne and Thelma Murto.

A celebration of her life will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 16th, 2025, at The Ninilchik Community Center – 15765 Kingsley Road – Ninilchik, Alaska.

Arrangements made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel – 5839 Kenai Spur Hwy – Kenai, Alaska 99611.