On December 15, Ballard lost one of its great activists and voice for the less fortunate in the community. Randi Hansen, the tireless activist, passed away at Swedish Hospital from complications of pneumonia.

A Ballard resident for 58 years, Randi was a steadfast spokesperson for the poor, the homeless and those who had no voice themselves.

Born in Norway on Dec. 3rd, 1941 during World War II, Randi suffered from severe epilepsy and had several Grand Mal seizures a week.

In 1952, when she was 10 years old, Randi and her family immigrated to the U.S.

“The economic times were tough in Norway at the time,” said Arnie Hansen, Randi’s brother. “And there was a job opportunity for my father in Ballard.”

Randi found her activist spirit when Charles Royer ran for mayor of Seattle, and Randi got involved in the campiagn. Arnie Hansen said that campaign started her political activism.

Randi became one of the first volunteers and founders of what is now, the Nordic Heritage museum.

In the late 1970s, a council had formed which was dedicated to establishing a museum to pay tribute to Ballard’s Nordic ties. Randi was very involved in the council.

"Randi was very involved with the museum in the very beginning. When talk about creating a museum emerged she became very involved and supportive," said Marianne Forssblad, former Executive Director of the Nordic Heritage Museum.

"I remember Randi with great fondness and I was always very grateful to her for the initiative she took in the beginning of the Museum´s life. Her mother Ingeborg and her sister Elsa were for years also incredible and faithful supporters. They must always be remembered for their part in making the Nordic Heritage Museum a reality."

In 1978, she hosted Ballard’s first established Yulefest as a fundraiser for a potential museum.

“She hung onto her Norwegian roots much more than I did,” Arnie Hansen said. “She was instrumental in getting the Nordic Heritage Museum off the ground.”

Karoline Morrison. owner of the old Carnegie Library, recalls Randi’s inquiry to host the Yulefest on the building second floor.

“She came in one day and asked if it were possible to host a Yulefest on the second floor of the building. It was celebrated there for two years and it was very significant for Ballard,” Morrison said.

“She just got things going. She had a wonderful spirit of ‘why don’t we do this and that’.”

Randi ran the Yulefest celebrations for the first few years before passing the torch and started following her biggest passion - helping those in need.

“She was passionate about all those issues,” Arnie Hansen said. “particularly the poor people that are suffering.”

Randi was one of the original founders of the Ballard Food Bank and a prominent voice for the homeless.

She was a regular in the media on a wide range of topics and cared deeply about the Ballard community.

In 2004, Noland Homes was planning on building a four-unit townhouse project at 2250 N.W. 60th St, on a piece of land outside Randi’s window.

Randi spent nearly 12 hours sitting beneath a 20-foot tree on that property in an effort to keep it from being removed.

Randi believed that the increasing urbanization of Ballard was causing unnecessary destruction of trees.
“It was a beautiful 20-foot tree which she tried to save. She was like a pittbul on some things. I loved that about her,” Morrison said.
In 2006, Randi was among the 66 tenants forced to move out of her apartment when the Klondike Apartments and three other buildings were sold and converted to new condos.  She expressed concerns about paying higher rent and being able to remain in Ballard. 

In 2007, Randi fought to have a tent city for the homeless in Ballard until a more permanent homeless house was established. 

The following year, she was recognized as a local hero and was awarded the Ballard Community Service Award.

Jody Grage, who presented Randi with the award on behalf of the council, said Randi was “even more human than most of us.”

Randi’s lifework was to improve life for the less fortunate.

“She just loved people,” said Arnie Hansen

Randi passed away in Swedish hospital after having been in a coma for two weeks. She was 69 years old.

She never married nor had any children and is survived by her brother, nieces and nephews.

“She’s going to be greatly missed by her family,” Arnie Hansen said.

Her memorial service will be held on January 8th at 2:00 p.m. at Ballard Trinity United Methodist Church. Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to the Ballard Food Bank or Ballard Trinity United Methodist Church.