SEC FORM 4

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

DODSON MARK S

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

220 NW SECOND AVENUE

(Street)

PORTLAND

97209-3991

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS CO [ NWN ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director	10% Owner
	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/08/2009

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock	01/08/2009		S		567.0614	D	$41.8602	0⁽¹⁾	D
Common Stock								47,257.849⁽²⁾	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Employee Stock Option to Buy	$34.29							⁽³⁾	12/31/2011	Common Stock	23,000		23,000	D
Employee Stock Option to Buy	$44.48							⁽⁴⁾	12/31/2011	Common Stock	23,000		23,000	D
Employee Stock Option to Buy	$43.29							⁽⁵⁾	12/31/2011	Common Stock	25,000		25,000	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Mr. Dodson's sale of the Northwest Natural Gas Company common stock was pursuant to decision and plan entered into as of December 4, 2008 under which his entire Northwest Gas Company's Retirement K Savings Plan account would be liquidated as soon as reasonably practicable, including any company stock therein, upon his retirement; Mr. Dodson retired as of December 31, 2008.

2. Mr. Dodson gifted 150 shares on September 18, 2008, 3,000 shares on November 25, 2008 and 600 shares on December 12, 2008. These gifts of shares will be reported on a Form 5 for the year ending 2008.

3. Option was granted for 23,000 shares pursuant to Northwest Natural Gas Company's Restated Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). The option vested in installments of 5,750 shares on each February 22, 2007 and January 1, 2008. Pursuant to the Plan, the remaining 11,500 shares became fully exercisable upon Mr. Dodson's retirement on December 31, 2008. The option expires on December 31, 2011.

4. Option was granted for 23,000 shares pursuant to Northwest Natural Gas Company's Restated Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). A total of 5,750 shares vested on February 21, 2008. Pursuant to the Plan, the remaining 17,250 shares became fully exercisable upon Mr. Dodson's retirement on December 31, 2008. The option expires on December 31, 2011.

5. Option was granted for 25,000 shares pursuant to Northwest Natural Gas Company's Restated Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). Pursuant to the Plan, all 25,000 shares became fully exercisable upon Mr. Dodson's retirement on December 31, 2008. The option expires on December 31, 2011.

	MardiLyn Saathoff, Attorney-in-Fact	01/09/2009
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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