Lena Haugen

Lena Haugen, 77 a long time resident of Devils Lake, ND was called to her eternal home by her loving Lord on May 14, 2007 at MeritCare Hospital, Fargo, ND A celebration of Lena’s life and Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 18, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake, ND. Fr. C.F. Wilhelm will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 17, 2007 at Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Friday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Gift Bearers will be Bob and Marlys Haugen and Mary Ann Senger and Kathryn Hermann Lena’s six beloved grandchildren will serve as casket bearers. Her four special great grandchildren and the employees of the North Dakota School for the Deaf and Davis Motel will serve as Honorary Bearers. Lena was born on July 7, 1929 at Southam, North Dakota the daughter of Wendlin and Evelyn (Koble) Axtman. She was reared and educated at Southam. In October 1944, shortly after her 15th birthday, she entered the world of work at the North Dakota School for the Deaf where she would continue for the next four years. On October 19, 1948, Lena was united in marriage to William Haugen at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Crary, ND. They established their home in Devils Lake. A year later they moved to Lead, South Dakota where their first daughter was born. After a year, they returned to Devils Lake where they lived and worked through the years and raised their five daughters. Bill died on July 28, 2002. Lena enjoyed and always took pride in her work. She was employed by Majestic Cleaners and Laundry and One-Hour Martinizing, where she eventually became manager. In August of 1982 she returned to the School for the Deaf where she enjoyed working with the staff for the next 15 years, retiring in May 1996. She then began part-time with her friends at the Davis Motel from July 1997 until the present. Lena enjoyed traveling, exercising, especially with the seniors at the School for the Deaf pool, dancing and word find puzzles. Until her hospitalization, Lena was a strong and energetic lady with great pride in her family. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, St. Therese Circle, Senior Aqua Queens, Sunwest Friday Night Group and a lifetime member of VFW Ladies Auxiliary. She will be missed by her loving family and many friends. Continuing to share Lena’s memory includes: Karlene (Keith) Warner of Devils Lake Darlene (Dennis) McCauley of Fosston, MN Karen Knudsen of Glendale, Arizona Bonnie (Russ) Schonmeier of East Grand Forks, MN Darla (Arlan) Duckstad of Grand Forks, ND Grandchildren: Jason (Rebecca) Warner, Albertville, MN, Jerrod (Melissa) Warner, Dickinson, ND, Georgiana (Jeff) Wood, Bismarck, ND, Nathan Knudsen, West Fargo, ND, Jeremiah and Brennen Johnson, Grand Forks, ND Great Grandchildren: Brett Anderson, Taylor Wood, Caleb Knudsen and Kale Warner. Sisters: Mary Ann Senger of Devils Lake Kathryn Hermann of West St. Paul, Minnesota Brother: Joe Axtman of Minot, ND Many nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William; son, William Francis Jr.; grandson, Ryan Howard Johnson; brothers, Thomas Axtman, Michael Axtman, Conrad “Kenneth” Axtman; sisters, Caroline Axtman, Margaret Kritz, Christine Richter and Theresa Feierer.