Dr. Chester Allen Hausken

Professor Emeritus of Statistics & Research, Seattle Pacific University

1929 - 2023

Chester began his long life in Glenwood, MN on the banks of Lake Minnewaska. A life-long Lutheran, he would say that the support of his church and community influenced the trajectory of his life.

His father, Olof, was an engineer on the Soo Line railroad and his mother, Frances, ran the Tip-Top Cafe, where Chet (Billy) and his siblings, Thelma, Walter (Bud), and Nola helped. The adventures of Bud & Billy on and around Lake Minnewaska, Glenwood ski slopes and ski tower are both legendary and too numerous to list here. He grew up there, excelling in school and athletics to go on to graduate from St. Olaf College in 1951 with dreams of becoming a teacher. Chet studied science and competed in sports, including football, track, and ski jumping. In June 1951 First Lieutenant Commander Chester Hausken enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps who in 1952 asked him to command the1st AAA AW Bn Force Troops at Twenty-Nine Palms out of Camp Pendleton, CA.

Chet returned home in 1953 and while teaching chemistry in Fergus Falls, MN, he met Irene, who was a teacher in Glenwood. In 1955, they were married in Fergus Falls and by 1966 their family had grown to include Teresa, Gregory, Jeffrey, Thomas, and Zachary. He taught all five to waterski and snow ski.

Meanwhile, Chet’s love of teaching and math led him to M.A. and Ed.D. degrees from the University of Northern Colorado with a major in secondary education, administration and statistics. Chet served as director of the Bureau of Educational Research at the University of North Dakota. From there he went on to serve as director of research in Spokane, WA, public schools. He then accepted a position as program director for the Rural Education program at the Northwest Regional Education Laboratory in Portland, OR. He logged many air miles traveling to tiny districts in Alaska while doing research. Meanwhile, Chet and Irene somehow managed to attend every game, concert, play, or program their children were involved in. They were the parents who showed up, and their home was a place where friends often hung out.

In 1976, Chet joined the staff at California Lutheran College in Thousand Oaks, CA, as Director of Grants. He successfully increased corporation and foundation giving 48% and was instrumental in establishing funding for the new library. This led to his becoming Director of Development at the Lutheran Bible Institute in Issaquah, WA in 1979.

In 1982, Chet returned to his first love, accepting the tenured position of Professor of Statistics and Research at Seattle Pacific University, where he served until retirement in 1997. Afterwards he taught part time to graduate students, nursing students, and various doctoral candidates for several more years.

Chet and Irene moved to Yakima, WA in 2003 to spend more time with family and traveling. They were active members at Central Lutheran Church in Yakima. They brought leadership and a deep commitment to the work of the church in every congregation they were part of. They celebrated 50 years together in 2005, while traveling the United States and the world both with family and as a couple. They have watched their family grow to include 4 in-laws: Dave Sharkey, Julie Hausken, Donna Hausken, and Lincoln Briney. In addition, there are now 9 grandchildren: Brianna Sharkey, Eoin Thomas Sharkey, Torii Hausken, Dr. Ryley Hausken, Dr. Keely Hausken, Kian Hausken, Griff Hausken, Guthrie Hausken, and Jazmyn Capron-Graves.

He was a leader in his field, listed in Who’s Who, using statistics to show how Americans learn, behave, and make decisions. He testified before the U.S. Congress on Rural Education in the same hearing that Sesame Street’s Children’s Television Workshop was pitched. He has influenced a generation of statisticians, teachers, administrators, nurses and theologians with the love of statistics. Most important to “Papa” Chet, however, is his pride in his children and grandchildren, which explains the smile that you see him wearing in all the photos.

They would have celebrated 68 years of happy marriage this August, however, his body had begun to give out. This last year, Chet and Irene moved to an apartment home at Fieldstone Orchard West in Yakima. Irene, lovingly assisted by Greg, Thomas, Lincoln, Terri, and Dave, along with the Fieldstone staff and Hospice cared for Chet in his final months. All the family were able to visit and say their goodbyes. On May 5, 2023 he passed painlessly and peacefully, holding the hand of the love of his life, Irene.

The family invites you to a memorial service in his honor at Central Lutheran Church, 1604 W Yakima Ave., Yakima, WA 98908-2953 (509) 575-6490 on Sunday, June 4th, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. . You are also invited to share pictures and memories of Chet on the obituary website at Keith & Keith funeral home website, dignitymemorial.com, under obituaries: Dr. Chester Allen Hausken.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.keithandkeith.com for the Hausken family.