Kenneth Haugen, the husband of our late cousin, Louise, passed away last week of heart failure. Harold Rolfsrud relayed the sad news about his brother-in-law from western North Dakota. Ken will be buried today in Alexander, alongside his dear wife.
Here's the obituary from the Fargo Forum.
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Kenneth Haugen, 69, of Alexander, ND passed away Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at Essentia Health Center in Fargo, ND. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, February 11, 2013 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alexander. Pastor Mark Kindem will officiate and interment will be held at the Alexander Cemetery. Friends may share memories and condolences with the family at www.fulkersons.com
Ken was born March 5th, 1943 in Williston to Orville and Dorothy Haugen. He grew up on the family farm south of Alexander and graduated from Alexander High School in 1961. He then attended NDSCS, Wahpeton, for two years and graduated with a Diesel Mechanics degree in 1963. He was also a member of the ND National Guard during this time. He married Louise Rolfsrud on June 12, 1964 in Watford City and they made their home in Fargo for five years where Ken worked for Butler Machinery. In 1969, they moved to the Haugen family farm near Alexander so Ken could continue the farming operation for his Dad. After 42 wonderful years of marriage, Louise passed away in 2006.
Ken farmed for 44 years, just recently making the decision to retire. He loved farming, but harvest was by far his favorite and you could find him in the combine every fall, happy to be doing what he loved.
Ken loved to travel, especially to warm places in the winter. He took his entire family on a trip to Turks and Caicos last winter and it will be a trip they will cherish forever. Ken was a long-time member of Highland Lutheran and Trinity Lutheran churches. He also participated in several pinochle clubs and the Alexander Lions Club. He really enjoyed the time spent with friends and family. He adored his children and grandchildren and loved cheering them on at their events.
He is survived by his three daughters, Deanne (Jeff) Dostal, Fargo, Melissa (Glenn) Grommesh, Casselton, Michele (Adam) Lovehaug, Fargo; seven grandchildren, Kayla and Brett Dostal, Gabrielle, Sydney and Kylie Grommesh, McKenna and Alexis Lovehaug; two sisters, Astrid Coats, Vancouver, WA, Susan (Russ) Schumacher, Drayton, ND; one brother, Dan Haugen, Pembina, ND; special friend, Paulette Iverson, Billings, MT; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and his brother-in-law, Keith Coats.
The Haugen family would prefer that memorial contributions be made to the Lewis & Clark Trail Museum, or to the Alexander First Responders, c/o the City of Alexander, PO Box 366, Alexander, ND 58831.
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| Ken Haugen, surrounding by grandchildren, at his wife' s burial. |
To read our story about the brave little North Dakota town of Alexander, Trinity Lutheran and the life Louise and Ken shared, click here.
