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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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * DOOLITTLE LEA ANNE   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) Chief Adm. Officer & SVP (Last) (First) (Middle) 220 NW SECOND AVENUE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 12/30/2016 (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 12/30/2016   M(1)   600 A $ 44.48 946.4242 I See Footnote (2) Common Stock 12/30/2016   S(1)   600 D $ 59.7318 (3) 346.4242 I See Footnote (2) Common Stock               88.4968 D   Common Stock               8,452.3568 I See Footnote (4) Common Stock               2,286.373 I See Footnote (5) Common Stock               536.745 I See Footnote (6) Common Stock               326.9094 I See Footnote (7)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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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

$ 44.48

12/30/2016

M

600

(8)

02/28/2017

Common Stock

600

$ 0 (1)

0

I

See Footnote (1)

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
DOOLITTLE LEA ANNE 220 NW SECOND AVENUE PORTLAND, OR 97209			Chief Adm. Officer & SVP

Signatures

Shawn M. Filippi, Attorney-in-Fact		01/04/2017
**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)	Option of the reporting person's spouse was granted as part of compensation for services. The option was exercised by the reporting person's spouse in a cashless exercise on December 30, 2016 as the option was close to expiration.
(2)	Shares are held in account of reporting person's spouse.
(3)	This transaction by the reporting person's spouse was executed in multiple trades on reported date with prices ranging from $59.705 - $59.775, resulting in an average price of $59.7318. Northwest Natural Gas Company ("Issuer") will provide upon request by the Commission staff or a security holder of the Issuer full information regarding the number of shares purchased or sold at each separate price.
(4)	Shares are held in reporting person's account under Issuer's Retirement K Savings Plan as of December 30, 2016.
(5)	Reflects shares that have been credited to reporting person's account under the Issuer's Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Executives.
(6)	Reflects shares that have been credited to reporting person's account under the Issuer's Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.
(7)	Shares are held in reporting person's spouse's account under Issuer's Retirement K Savings Plan as of December 30, 2016.
(8)	The option of the reporting person's spouse vested in four equal installments on February 21, 2008, and January 1, 2009, 2010, and 2011.

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