Elsie M. Haugen

Tuesday, August 28, 2018 8:18 pm

Elsie M. Haugen, 97, of Decorah, died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, at her home in Decorah. Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, with Rev. Dr. Jennifer Edinger officiating. Organist was Paul Bruvold. Soloist was LeEtta Choi “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art”). Congregational hymns were “On Eagle’s Wings” and “Softly and Tenderly.” Casket bearers were Kevin Anderson, Mike Bergan, Ed Espe, Dennis Larson, Bruce Schuman and Mark Soland. Burial was in the church cemetery. Visitation was from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and Wednesday beginning at 10 a.m., one hour before the service, at the church.

Elsie Mabel (Halverson) Haugen was born Oct. 17, 1920, in a two-story log home in Springfield Township, Winneshiek County, the daughter of John and Hilda (Orvella) Halverson. She went to the Nordness Country School through the 8th grade, and graduated from Decorah High School in May 1939.

She got her first driver’s license in 1939. She drove a Model A Ford pickup and gradually got to drive the Hudson. She stayed at home and helped on the farm, and other relatives, and worked at the Nordness Store for Tom Haugen. She also helped at the Nordness Telephone switchboard. She worked at the Montgomery Ward order office until 1944. She was asked to accompany her crippled aunt to Renton, Wash., to live with her brother, Grant. They thought the climate change might help her. Mr. Noecker, taxi driver, took them to Minneapolis; from there they went by train and had a special room for them. A classmate and friend Volborg Ramsey, had a job in Stockton, Calif., so she went from Washington to California and got a job at a wholesale hardware store. She worked the switchboard and also typed invoices, etc. She returned to Decorah in 1945.

She was united in marriage with Ivan W. Haugen Feb. 11, 1947, at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. They were blessed with three children: Irene, Pearl and James.

Ivan and Elsie farmed until retiring in 1990 and moved into Decorah. She was an active member of Washington Prairie Lutheran Church.

Elsie is survived by one daughter, Pearl (Roger) Hamilton of Decorah; four grandchildren: Brenda Falck, Randy (Janet) Falck, Tina (Tim) Lewison and Dean Hamilton: six great-grandchildren: Shawnee Falck, Cody Falck, Ethan Falck, Tristan Lewison, Talan Lewison and Tessa Lewison; one sister, Julia Soland of Decorah; one sister-in-law, Dorothy Halverson of Decorah; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ivan, Dec. 4, 1997; one son, James Haugen, Oct. 20, 1982; one daughter, Irene Falck, Nov. 4, 2011; son-in-law, Harold, July 14, 2006; three sisters: Rebecca Halverson, Hazel Espe and Clara Halverson; and one brother, Orville Halverson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, 1725 Washington Prairie Road, Decorah, IA 52101 or W.M.C. Hospice, 901 Montgomery Street, Decorah, IA 52101.

Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah served the family.

Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com.