Erling Caspar Hesla

Lifelong Learner, Intellectual, Mentor, and Friend to All

Born September 23, 1924, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; Died May 18, 2023, Seattle, Washington, USA.

Erling Hesla, of Edmonds, Washington, died peacefully on May 18, 2023, at Swedish Hospital, Seattle, at the age of 98. He is survived by two sons, Erik Hesla and Paul Hesla.

Erling was predeceased by wife Viola, son Christopher Bruce, sister Grace, and brother Orval.

At the time of his death, Erling was working on a biography of his mother, Pauline Caspara Hesla (nee Flo) whose life story unfolded in Norway and Canada. Erling’s father, Oscar Selmer Hesla, was born in South Dakota. Both Pauline and Oscar taught Erling and his siblings much about helping others, always showing kindness to people who may be in difficult circumstances.

Along with Erik and Paul, Erling is lovingly remembered by the Hesla, Coupar, Davidson, and Eidet families, his nephews Douglas, Kaare, Alan, niece Karen; and other family members in Canada, the USA, and Norway.

His steadfast friends, Julie Reymore, Ray Sundquist, Jim and Lori Michael, Ben Davis, Arlene Adams, Maggie Fimia, Bob Giese, Jim Stephanson, Ron Weisel, Vivian Olson, Gloria Olson, Melanie Zamora, Brenda Hope, Victoria Pihlaja, Joan Reed, Tom MacArthur and Kimberly MacArthur, are but a few of the many people who cherished Erling, and supported him throughout many endeavors.

Worldwide, Erling’s friends and colleagues can be found in over 30

countries, due to a lifetime of sharing his expertise as a Professional

Engineer and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics

Engineers, IEEE. He authored, or contributed to, over 79 books and major

texts on advanced engineering and emerging technologies, beginning in

1947 and continuing until his death.

Erling was a relentless traveler and never hesitated to answer the call if his

engineering assistance was needed in faraway countries such as India, the

Philippines, or remote parts of Asia. He had a special affinity for Brazil,

where he lived for several years while part of a talented international

engineering team.

Between overseas trips and distant meeting rooms, Erling was at home in

Edmonds, and before that, Camano Island, and Everett, where he

enthusiastically baked bread and took long walks or bike rides, for the

sheer delight he experienced while outdoors.

From childhood and through his long life, Erling was an amateur botanist,

with a sophisticated knowledge of plants and trees. This meant that

walking or hiking in solitude was like ‘brain food’ to him, and he was deeply

restored by the peace and beauty he found in the woods. In some

respects, this was a spiritual practice for Erling, and a foundational aspect

of his faith in God.

Locally, Erling was a proud founding member of Prince of Peace Lutheran

Church in Eastmont and loved its whole congregation.

He was also one of the founders of Bethany of the Northwest in Everett,

and its longest serving Board member. (Bethany is a care facility for

seniors and those in need of rehab, “…dedicated to enhancing the quality

and dignity of life of those who we serve, out of love for God and

neighbor”.)

Several charities benefited from Erling’s lifelong commitment to volunteer

work, and he never failed to be a steady presence when tough issues

needed to be addressed with objectivity and clarity.

This was true in civic affairs as well, where he took his responsibilities as a

citizen very seriously. He urged elected officials to show integrity, and

commit to citizen involvement and civility, to bring out the best in people

and to make progress for the whole community.

In both his professional and personal relationships, Erling eagerly

welcomed the challenges that others consider ‘problems’. He was

intellectually stimulated by thinking about and proposing solutions to

insurmountable difficulties, on any scale. This made him a trusted

consultant, advisor, mentor, and dear friend to so many. He loved to

collaborate, and was drawn to people who shared his enthusiasm and

natural curiosity.

Erling started life as a farm boy on a windswept prairie in Canada, almost a

century ago. He had an optimistic view that however humble one’s

beginnings, we all have a big world to discover and fully engage in. He did

this without fail, and lived every day of his life to the fullest.

Always remembered. Rest In Peace, Erling

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we

should thank God that such men lived.” - George S. Patton, Jr.