Don Leroy Haegen

RICHLAND, Wash., -- Don Leroy Haegen, 61, of Kennwick, Wash., died Thursday (Aug. 7, 2003) in Richland, Wash., as a result of an accident.

He was born March 21, 1942, in McCook to Noble and Nellie Haegen.

He was raised in Trenton and served as Chief of Police in Trenton from 1979 until 1986. He served as a military policeman in the Vietnam War from January 1964 until his honorable discharge in November 1967. He and his wife Carole moved to Benton City, Wash., in 1986 and Kennewick in April 2001.

He was a railroad engineer for the Tri-City Railroad in Richland. He served as a committe member of the Benton-Franklin Rodeo in Washington from 1988 to 1995. He was a member of the Last Chance Rodeo Committee from 1997 to 2000. He volunteered at the Les Patterson's Bulldogging School, helping college students in the arena. He was a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association since 1976. He was a member of the Engineers Union Local 280.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Carol; daughter Kim Uhl and husband, Monty of Anderson, Calif.; a son, Sage of Kennewick; a brother, Phillip Haegen and wife, Lenna Mae of Grand Coulee, Wash.; and two grandchildren.

There will be a wake a celebrate Don's life on Wednesday, 5 p.m. at the Urbach Arena in Pasco, Wash.,

Mellers Chapel of the Falls in Kennewick, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.

Announcement courtesy of Herrmann Funeral Home of McCook.