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

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN 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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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Williams David R   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS CO [NWN] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Vice President (Last) (First) (Middle) 220 NW SECOND AVENUE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 09/11/2008 (Street) PORTLAND, OR 97209 4. If Amendment, Date 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 (City) (State) (Zip) 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) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 09/11/2008   M   2,500 A $ 26.3 3,249.233 D   Common Stock 09/11/2008   S   2,500 D $ 49.8267 (1) 749.233 D   Common Stock 09/11/2008   M   3,000 D $ 31.34 3,749.233 D   Common Stock 09/11/2008   S   3,000 D $ 49.807 (2) 749.233 D   Common Stock               1,375.2658 I See footnote (3)

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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 Underlying Securities (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 of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Employee Stock Option to Buy

$ 26.3

09/11/2008

M

2,500

(4)

03/05/2012

Common Stock

2,500

$ 0

0

D

Employee Stock Option to Buy

$ 31.34

09/11/2008

M

3,000

(5)

03/04/2014

Common Stock

3,000

$ 0

0

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Williams David R 220 NW SECOND AVENUE PORTLAND, OR 97209			Vice President

Signatures

Shawn M. Filippi, Attorney-in-Fact		09/12/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	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).
(1)	The sale of Northwest Natural Gas Company stock took place in two separate transactions occurring on 9/11/2008. The price in column 4 represents the weighted average sale price for the transactions reported on this line. The range of prices for these transactions was $49.75-$49.82872. Northwest Natural Gas Company will provide upon request by the Commission staff or a security holder of Northwest Natural Gas Company full information regarding the number of shares purchased or sold at each separate price.
(2)	The sale of Northwest Natural Gas Company stock took place in two separate transactions occurring on 9/11/2008. The price in column 4 represents the weighted average sale price for the transactions reported on this line. The range of prices for these transactions was $49.74-$49.82872. Northwest Natural Gas Company will provide upon request by the Commission staff or a security holder of Northwest Natural Gas Company full information regarding the number of shares purchased or sold at each separate price.
(3)	Shares were held in the reporting person's account under Northwest Natural Gas Company's Retirement K Savings Plan as of August 31, 2008.
(4)	Option was granted for 2,500 shares pursuant to Northwest Natural Gas Company's Restated Stock Option Plan. The option fully vested on January 1, 2005.
(5)	Option was granted for 3,000 shares pursuant to Northwest Natural Gas Company's Restated Stock Option Plan. The option fully vested on January 1, 2007.

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