Rusel Charles Hause

Rusel Charles Hause passed away peacefully at the age of 87 on April 15, 2025.

He was born the second son of Rex and Ruth Hause of Winner, South Dakota on January 1, 1938. During World War II, the family relocated to Portland, Oregon so that Rex could work in the shipyards. Rex later worked as a butcher at the Piggly Wiggly in Portland, and then opened his own grocery store in Hermiston, Oregon. The family moved to The Dalles, Oregon to start a butcher shop during Rusel’s senior year of high school. Rusel worked in construction on the Dalles Dam during his senior year of high school and during the following summer.

After graduating from The Dalles High School, Rusel attended Pacific Lutheran University. Rusel met Lois at PLU, and they married after her graduation. He completed his degree in education at Oregon State University. They both taught for two years in Roseburg, Oregon. Rusel joined the Navy in 1961.

He was commissioned out of Officer Candidate School in Rhode Island, and his first official duty station was Navy Norfolk, VA. Rusel served sea duty on several ships, including the USS Pocono, which were dispatched to the Mediterranean for NATO exercises. One of the missions was diverted to the threatened Cuban missile blockade in 1962.

Rusel and Lois’ sons Jaeson and Jeffrey were born in Portsmouth, Virginia. He transferred to the Sand Point Naval Air Station in Seattle, Washington, where their son Michael was born.

Rusel transitioned to the US Naval Reserve in 1966. He served for fifteen years in the Naval Reserves and retired in 1981 as a Commander. The family settled in north Seattle before moving to Shoreline and then to Edmonds.

Rusel resumed his teaching career as a math teacher at Cordell Hull Middle School in Shoreline School District. Seven years later, he transferred to the newly opened Einstein Middle School. Along with his teaching duties, he coached wrestling, taught driver’s ed, and even participated in fun school events such as donkey basketball. He enjoyed learning about computers and started software programming classes with his students. He retired from teaching in 1991.

Summertimes were spent in The Dalles with Rusel’s parents on their farm, and traveling to interesting destinations around the country. Some of the summer trips were planned around Reserve service destinations such as San Diego and Maryland.

They invested in rental property starting in 1974. As do-it-yourselfers, they maintained and improved the properties and managed their investment property business. Most importantly, they taught their sons the importance of leveraging investments and the time value of money.

In their retirement, Rusel and Lois traveled domestically and overseas with friends and family. They also spent time with their children and grandchildren at Deer Lake outside Spokane. Rusel made the morning pancakes for the family members wandering in for breakfast, and perfected the art of cutting up watermelons for the constantly emptying bowls. They celebrated special milestones with family trips to Disneyland and San Diego. Rusel enjoyed golfing, biking, and fishing adventures well into his eighties with his sons. He loved wood-working, and made a lot of custom furniture for his children and grandchildren. Maintaining their rental properties also kept them busy.

Rusel and Lois moved to their current house in the Edmonds Bowl in 1996, They loved and appreciated their view of Puget Sound, the ferries, and the mountains every day. They also loved watching the activities that took place at the Francis Anderson Center park across the street.

Rusel is mourned by his wife Lois and his sons and their families:

Jaeson and Shauna Hawes of Martinez, California, their son Joel, his wife Gina Scalise and son Maximilian of Martinez, their son Benjamin of New York City;

Jeffrey Hause and Francine Pronesti of Bothell, daughter Jacqueline of Bellingham, son Conrad of Everett, sons Brandon and Derek of Bothell, daughter Nina Dubrule of Bothell.

Mike Hause and Mary Ronnestad of Spokane.

He is also mourned by his brother Jerry Hause and sister-in-law Tina, and nieces Ruth and Jessica.

They are comforted knowing that this humble and accomplished man loved them deeply and wanted them to thrive even after he was gone.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Rusel's name to Seattle Children's Hospital (https://www.seattlechildrens.org/giving/honor-loved-one/)