Jackie Lansing dutifully managed the business interests of her mentor, real estate agent Al Benton, for 57 years at her small metal desk in the front of the brick-faced office on 16th Avenue S.W. in White Center. There is no computer. Instead, there is an electric typewriter about 40 years old. On the desk is a ledger book of a type long since abandoned in most offices, but here filled up with the fine penmanship of this lovely white haired lady.

Around her, hundreds of businesses have come and gone, thousands of lives have played out. The community has been transformed into a true international melting pot since the 1960's when it was still a predominantly blue collar town that is now home to peoples who brought with them the cultures of the world and dozens of languages.

Jackie first worked here in 1954, seven years after Mr. Benton returned from military service to begin a realty career that would span seven decades. Mr. Benton died in August at age 99.

Jackie said Mr. Benton built many homes in the White Center area. She said the office was a very busy place at one time, with six salesmen, a builder and Mr. Benton all working out of what today are modest spaces. The rooms appear to not have been painted or updated in the entire time it was used as a realty office.

Through it all, Jackie Lansing kept her eyes on the work in front of her. While the business is still owned by Mr. Benton's daughter, Nancy, Jackie Lansing will keep her role as property manager for apartments owned by the Bentons. Nancy Benton said she will seek a tenant for the office that served as her father's headquarters since the late 1940s.