Harvest accident claims life

Pastor Tim Hauge of Christ Lutheran Church in Odessa died Monday from injuries suffered in a harvest accident. He was driving a semi loaded with wheat toward town when the vehicle’s brakes failed.

According to the Washington State Patrol, the vehicle “was southbound on SR21 approaching milepost 56. [The] vehicle experienced a brake failure, left the road near milepost 56, crossed over Railroad Avenue, continued up an embankment and struck a building.” Hauge was trapped in the vehicle, as EMTs and firefighters rushed to extricate him and rush him to the hospital. The air ambulance was called to bring him to Spokane for treatment, but he succumbed en route.

Hauge’s passing is of course devastating to his family but also leaves a huge hole in the community of which he was such a large part since bringing his family here in 2002 and accepting the call to pastor at Christ Lutheran Church. Besides his duties as pastor, he volunteered as an EMT and a firefighter, he drove a school bus route and often drove athletic team buses to competitions. He was also a member of the Oom Pas and Mas polka band and for several years organized the musical acts for the outdoor stage during the Odessa Deutschesfest. He also performed on the stage as a solo act or with other performers, and was a part of the Crab Creek Gospel group composed mainly of his parishioners.

So many individuals throughout the town have their stories of how big-hearted Pastor Tim helped them to deal with difficult situations, personal losses and all manner of issues large and small. “He truly lived his faith,” is how one Odessa citizen put it.

Tuesday evening, those seeking solace and comfort following the tragedy met at the local football field for a prayer vigil organized by the Odessa Community Ministerial Association, with participation by all four of Hauge’s fellow men of the cloth: Pastor Mark Squire of Zion Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Father Kenny St. Hilaire of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Pastor Bill Cox of the Foursquare Church and Pastor Jon Hayashi of Heritage Church. Also participating was Pastor Bob Kenyon of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Ritzville. The program consisted of a mix of scripture readings, music and prayers for the first responders and EMTs, the Christ Lutheran Church congregation and the Hauge family.

Funeral services for Pastor Tim Hauge will be held Friday, August 19, at 1 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Odessa, with a luncheon and time of fellowship to follow at the Odessa Community Center. A full obituary will appear in next week’s issue of The Record.