Les Hagen retiring after 39 years as pastor at Darrington church

Published 1:30 am Friday, May 12, 2017

DARRINGTON — A pastor who made his mark through sermons, service and shooting hoops is leaving after nearly four decades.

Les Hagen and his wife, Cathy, moved to Darrington in 1978. The couple has been married nearly 50 years, and Les Hagen is a month shy of 39 years as pastor at Glad Tidings Assembly Of God.

They love their town and congregation, but want more time with family.

“Our grandkids are calling,” the pastor said.

Their oldest son has two boys, ages 6 and 9, in Modesto, California. That’s where they’ll be moving. The Hagens’ younger son works at Northwest University in Kirkland.

The grandsons finish school at the end of May, and Cathy Hagen aims to be in California as they start the summer. Her husband plans to remain in Darrington until a new pastor is confirmed. The search has begun.

Randy Ashe, co-owner of the IGA grocery store in town, has known the Hagens for about 30 years and serves on the church board at Glad Tidings. Les and Cathy Hagen have given so much time to the community, in and out of church, he said. The pastor coached champion high school basketball teams and stepped up to help with weddings and funerals, even if they weren’t for someone in the church. Ashe applauds Les Hagen’s dedication to those who were ill or injured.

“He’s wore several vehicles out between here and the Arlington hospital,” he said.

He expects there will be sadness at the church with the Hagens’ departure, but hopes to find another dedicated pastor who can “step right in and fill some big shoes.”

Les Hagen, 71, aims to leave a legacy of diligence and doing what is right. It’s easy to get caught up in events, big and small, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is to stay faithful, he said.

He grew up in Marysville, and his dad owned a jewelry store in Everett that is long since gone, he said. When he moved to Darrington, he didn’t know anybody, and nobody knew him.

He wanted to make connections, so he turned to his favorite sport: basketball. He volunteered to coach middle school kids and soon became the assistant basketball coach for the high school team. He continued coaching for about 27 years and took players to state tournaments. He also has been a substitute teacher, and his wife filled in as school librarian from time to time.

“In a small town, the school is the center of everything, so I felt that the school was the place where I could become known in the community,” he said. “That’s what I did. I became a part of the community.”

Margie Hemmer, treasurer at Glad Tidings, said the Hagens stood behind many of the church’s outreach efforts.

The pastor started a twice monthly men’s Bible study where multiple churches come together. On Sunday mornings, volunteers at Glad Tidings cook a free breakfast for children. For some, it might be the only hot meal they get over the weekend. The church sponsors a recovery group to help people battling addiction. This year, the congregation collected socks and shoes for elementary students in need.

After the deadly Oso mudslide in 2014, Les Hagen joined long-term recovery efforts and helped distribute resources to families. Glad Tidings sent some kids to summer camp that year and provided gas cards for the long commute while Highway 530 was closed.

During Vacation Bible School in the summer, the pastor participates in games and activities. He’s the first to show kids how to shoot hoops or help with a wooden car for the pinewood derby. Cathy Hagen also is active in town. She helped at the community center and has been a frequent volunteer for local projects.

“They came into Darrington, they made Darrington their home, and they’ve just been an awesome part of the community,” Hemmer said.

The congregation hasn’t grown much; there’s a crowd of about 90 people on any given Sunday. But the dynamics are different than they were four decades ago, Les Hagen said. He notes the energy of volunteers and the addition of more young people through middle and high school youth groups. The church built a new sanctuary 25 years ago, and remodeled the old building about 15 years later. Hagen said he’s made a lot of memories in the church, and on the high school basketball court.

He hopes to continue in part-time ministry in California, but plans to prioritize his family.

“I gotta have time for the grandkids,” he said. “My fear is that they are already involved in soccer, and somebody has got to teach them basketball.”

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.