Obituary of Torgeir Andrew Haugland

Torgeir Andrew Haugland, 89, passed away on July 19, 2017 in Kent, Washington. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on April 23, 1928 to his Norwegian immigrant parents Hans and Ida (Tønnesen) Haugland. His brother George was born two years later. Torgeir had rheumatic fever in first grade and had to retake that grade. He did well in his studies and later graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School, skipping a grade to graduate with his original class. To prepare himself for college, he attended Lutheran Brethren Bible School in Fergus Falls, Minnesota for a year where he met his future wife, Helen Watson. While at Bible school, he wrote an article for the school paper titled “Fun with Math”. When one of the math teachers at the adjacent high school was quarantined for family health reasons, they enlisted an 18-year-old Torgeir to substitute teach. He then attended City College of New York for four years while courting Helen. After graduation and marriage he attended two years of seminary back in Fergus Falls, MN. A few years later he also obtained a master’s degree from Washington State University in Pullman, WA. Torgeir loved the Lord and served Him as a Lutheran Brethren and American Sunday School Union pastor and Sunday school teacher. He also was a high school teacher and Highline Community College mathematics instructor. He pastored, taught, or lived in the following locations: Brooklyn, NY; Fergus Falls, MN; Malta, Bennett Lake, Sun Prairie, and Regina, MT; and Spokane, Chewelah, Springdale, Longview, Puget Island, Chehalis, Naselle, SeaTac, Seattle, Tacoma, Redondo, Auburn, Des Moines, Federal Way, and Normandy Park, WA. Torgeir lived for over 50 years in the Auburn and Federal Way area before moving to assisted living and memory care facilities in Burien and Kent, Washington. Torgeir loved his parents Hans and Ida, his brother George (Beverly) Haugland, his wife Helen, and their seven children: Chester, Lyle (Cindy), Lola (Keith) Sherry, Otto, Renee, Irwin (Kathy), and Ione. He also loved his wife’s family: Howard and Helen (Vall) Watson, Doug (Shirley), Ken, Stuart (Eleanor), Leslie (Esther "Elida"), Everett (Linda), Albert (Junette), Morris (Gisela) Watson, and Janet (Bjarne) Kristiansen. Torgeir also loved his thirteen grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and thirty nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed. A memorial service celebrating Torgeir Haugland's life will be Saturday August 26, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 19834 8th Ave S, Des Moines, WA 98148. Memorial donations can be made to Peace Lutheran Brethren Church, Bible Camp Fund, 2242 Friendly Grove Road NE, Olympia, WA 98506-3506.