A. Marjorie Haugen

A. Marjorie Haugen, 84, of Coon Valley, died Monday December 17, 2012 at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center in La Crosse. She was born January 4, 1928 in La Crosse Lutheran Hospital to Melvin and Agnes (Bekkum) Steenberg. She was baptized March 4, 1928 and confirmed on May 23, 1943 at the Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church by Rev. J.O. Holum. Her early years of growing up were in the Old Towne area south of Westby. She moved to Coon Valley with her parents in 1944. She graduated from Westby High School in the class of 1946. After graduation she and cousin Alice Sherpe went to Minneapolis to attend Gale Institute and got their radio license. Marjorie then worked for United Airlines in Portland, Oregon for two years before returning to Coon Valley and La Crosse, where she worked in the Traffic Department for Electric Auto Lite. On May 28, 1949, she was married to Elnor H. Haugen at the Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church. They lived in La Crosse where they were charter members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. In 1964 they returned to Coon Valley, building a log house on her parent's farm. Elnor worked in La Crosse and they continued raising tobacco and did dairy farming. Marjorie and Elnor celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on May 28, 2012.

Marjorie enjoyed gardening, canning and volunteering in the area, especially at Norseland Nursing Home and Norskedalen near Coon Valley. Genealogy was very important to her and she traveled to Norway three times visiting the homes of her ancestors. She was a member of the Westby Historical Society, the Coulee Region Family Research Society, the La Crosse Sons of Norway lodge and the Naomi Circle at the Coon Valley Lutheran Church. She was a long time member of the Country Coon Prairie Preservation Board.

Survivors include her husband Elnor, a cousin Alice Sherpe Parish who was more like a sister; other cousins, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday December 22, 2012 at the Coon Valley Lutheran Church. Rev. Mitzi Miyamoto will officiate with burial in Coon Prairie Cemetery in Westby. Friends may call on Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley and at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time.