Cleo Hanssen; Former Newspaper Columnist

Cleo Hanssen, who wrote a social column for the Glendale News Press for more than 20 years, has died at a Glendale hospital. She was 86.

A longtime resident of Glendale, Mrs. Hanssen died Monday of natural causes, said her son, Gary Hanssen.

Born Cleo G. Dennstedt on Dec. 17, 1903, in Fargo, N.D., she came to California as a teen-ager and graduated from Hollywood High School.

From the early 1960s through the mid-1980s, she wrote a column titled “Cynosure” for the News Press.

A longtime member of the Oakmont Country Club, she served as president of the Oakmont League in the 1950s and was a board member of the American Assn. of Retired Persons West Glendale chapter during the 1980s. She also did volunteer work for the American Red Cross in Glendale.

She is survived by her son, Gary Hanssen of Wichita, Kan.; sister Bonnie Williams of San Diego; and one granddaughter. Her husband, Clary Hanssen, died in 1982.

A memorial service is planned at 1 p.m. today at Little Church of the Flowers at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 1712 S. Glendale Ave., Glendale. Forest Lawn Mortuary, Glendale, is handling the arrangements.

Donations can be sent in Mrs. Hanssen’s name to the American Cancer Society, San Fernando Valley unit.