Betty Anne Hanson
October 14, 1940 to May 13, 2026

Betty Anne Hanson was born October 14, 1940 in Hollywood, California to Thorkild and Nanna Mazanti. She came into the world joining her older sister, Ruth, and later her younger sister, Jane, completed the family. The three little Mazanti girls became a lifelong trio of sisters and friends. As a child, a friend invited her to church. Oh how that changed her life. She said that knowing God made life sweeter and He carried her through all the hard moments. She graduated from Redondo Union High School.

Through her sisters and their dear friend Bob Wilson, she met her future husband, Richard Hanson. They married in 1961 and Richard helped her get her college degree. She graduated from USC with a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy. She thoroughly enjoyed taking care of her patients. They later had a daughter, Leslie, and a son, Russell. Betty cherished her family. They took many summer road trips to see our National Parks, especially enjoying Sequoia, Glacier and the Grand Canyon. Betty and Richard faithfully took care of their parents as they aged and loved passing on family stories.

After Richard died in 2016, she bravely moved to Northern California to live close to Leslie. It was hard to leave family in Southern California, but she began a new adventure in McKinleyville. She thoroughly enjoyed making new friends and trying new things. Betty’s gentle Christian faith quietly radiated throughout her life. It showed as she cared for her family, as she worked with patients and in her service at church. If you knew Betty, please know you were often prayed for and loved.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Nanna and Thorkild, her sisters Ruth (Bob) and Jane, her dear husband Richard, and their infant son, David. She is survived by her daughter, Leslie (Chris) Gross, grandchildren Matthew (Kristin), Johanna, Sarah (Trevor) and Sam, and her son Russell (Chinami) Hanson, grandchildren Emma and Louie. She is survived by her brother-in-law, Bruce Hansen (Joan) and many precious nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by her friends and family.

A celebration of life service will be held at Trinity Baptist Church, in Arcata on May 30 at 11 a.m.

”You make known to me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” -Psalm 16:11

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Betty Hanson’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.