LaVerne Haugen

LaVerne Eleanor Haugen was born on October 18, 1938, and passed away on May 28, 2023 in Mandan, ND.

LaVerne was born and raised in Mandan, to Henry and Myrtle (Rambow) Wetch. LaVerne married Harold Haugen on April 28, 1957. They would go on to have six children, two of which would pass away prior to entering this world.

LaVerne and Harold had their own business called Haugen’s Tree Spraying Services; they would travel all around North Dakota with their kids and then grandkids while servicing their customers. She would later retire to babysit and care for her great grandbabies.

Laverne had many joys in life; she always liked to surround herself with family. Little did she know she would have a grandson that would become her little shadow from the moment of his birth to her last day. Everywhere LaVerne was, Layne was too, except for when he had to be in school.

You could often find LaVerne teaching anyone who was willing to learn how to bake, cook, sew, and embroider. She loved to work on her word find books, and often made notes in her books and calendars of any and all events that happened that day. She also loved going to the park with her puppy and children and swinging with them.

LaVerne’s favorite color was pink, and Christmas was her favorite holiday. This meant that she would be getting together with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to make Christmas cookies and frost them. She often liked to visit the Little Cottage on Main in Bismarck.

LaVerne also had a passion for rummage sales and being involved in church. LaVerne was a member of the Salvation Army and often assisted as a Sunday school teacher. It was very important to her to teach her family about Jesus, and has taught us all our first bedtime prayers.

Laverne is survived by her daughters, Kathleen Barnhardt of Mandan, and Cynthia (Gerold) Golke of Bismarck; son, Todd (April) Haugen of Casa Grande, Arizona; son-in-law, Bryan Gertz of Washburn; grandchildren, Steve (Kim) Barnhardt, Randy (Amy) Haugen, Shawn (Beth) Barnhardt, Jessica (Joda) Delkamp, Tammy Peirce, Alicia Barnhardt, Travis Stevens, Troy Barnhardt, Katie (Eric) Oelschlager, Christian (Shanwia) Gertz, Kristi Brewer, Austin Peterson, Layne Haugen, Dylon Haugen, and Quincy Haugen; sisters, Gwen Vogel, Linda Himmelspach, and Tammie Anderson; brother, Floyd Wetch; numerous great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and her fur baby, Snowball.

She is joined in Heaven with her husband, Harold Haugen; son-in-law, Donald Barnhardt; daughter Wanda Gertz; daughter-in-law, Stacy Haugen; grandson, David Barnhardt; parents, Henry and Myrtle Wetch; three brothers; two sisters; two babies that gained their wings too early; and her fur baby, Poncho.