Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Russell Lori L
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
04/01/2016
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS CO [NWN]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
220 NW SECOND AVENUE
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
VP
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

PORTLAND, OR 97209
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 1,332.594
D
 
Common Stock 3,372.0092
I
See Footnote (1)
Common Stock 218.599
I
See Footnote (2)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option to Buy   (3) 02/28/2017 Common Stock 1,200 $ 44.48 D  
Employee Stock Option to Buy   (3) 03/06/2018 Common Stock 2,000 $ 43.29 D  
Employee Stock Option to Buy   (3) 03/04/2019 Common Stock 1,200 $ 41.15 D  
Employee Stock Option to Buy   (3) 03/02/2020 Common Stock 1,500 $ 44.25 D  
Employee Stock Option to Buy   (3) 03/02/2021 Common Stock 2,000 $ 45.74 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Russell Lori L
220 NW SECOND AVENUE
PORTLAND, OR 97209
      VP  

Signatures

Shawn M. Filippi, Attorney-in-Fact 04/08/2016
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(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).
(1) Shares held in reporting person's account under Northwest Natural Gas Company's Retirement K Savings Plan as of April 8, 2016.
(2) Reflects shares that have been credited to reporting person's account under the issuer's Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Executives.
(3) Option was granted pursuant to Northwest Natural Gas Company's Restated Stock Option Plan and is fully vested.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

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