Lauri G. Haugen

Lauri G. Haugen, 64 of Devils Lake formerly of the Crary/Southam area of North Dakota passed away at his home on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 in the loving care of his family and Altru Hospice.

A gathering of family and friends will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Saturday, January 12, 2019 beginning at 4:30 p.m. with a Family Service at 7:30 p.m. with Reverend Lori Pankratz officiating.

Lauri Gene Haugen, loving son of Gordon and Viola (Jamsa) Haugen was born on July 28, 1954 at Fargo, ND. He grew up on the Haugen Homestead, south of Southam, ND.  At age 14 his Dad, Gordon died and he was blessed to have his mother later marry Elmer Harmon who was a wonderful step father for many years. 

Lauri attended school at Southam and after it closed he attended Crary Public School. He lived and worked in the Lake Region area at Lake Chevrolet, the North Dakota Highway Department at the Starkweather Shop and also worked for several area farmers. 

On August 19, 1978, Lauri married his high school sweetheart Beatrice “Bea” Kuntz at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. For several years they lived in the Crary area, then in 1980 moved to Minnesota where they started their family.  Lauri worked for a construction firm out of Minneapolis. 

When faced with a decision of moving to California or back to North Dakota, it was no contest. Back to the Crary area they came in 1984 and in the fall of 1996 the dream of moving back to the Haugen Homestead where he grew up was fulfilled.   He lived there until his increasing health problems forced a move to Devils Lake in 2016.  Lauri worked for several years at LaMotte’s Paint and Glass and retired from Leever’s County Market.

Lauri was an avid outdoorsman and loved to trap, hunt and fish whenever he could. There are so many precious memories of fishing trips and the annual family deer hunt. Lauri never missed a chance to “tease” the kids and grandkids.  He taught them the “Haugen glare” which had been an effective disciplinary tool with his children, but was a gift passed on to the grandchildren to use on their parents.  Lauri would challenge people at times, but if you faced the challenge with a good comeback response, he loved you for it. 

Lauri faced his health issues the best way he knew how. Smile, tease and be thankful for each day he had with his precious family and dear friends.

Lauri’s loving family include his wife of 40 years, Bea; daughter Jessica (Shawn) Weltikol of Crary; twin sons Joshua (Jessica) Haugen and Jeremy (Amanda) Haugen also all of Crary; nine grandchildren Samantha Eversvik, Allison Weltikol, Alexandria Haugen and Isaak Anthony; Izibelle Haugen and Wyatt Haugen; Liberty Haugen, Mason Haugen and Ethan Haugen; sister Verna (Ed) Brown, rural Devils Lake; seven dear in-laws and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father Elmer Harmon; father-in-law and mother-in-law Lawrence and Mary Kuntz.

In lieu of flowers, Lauri would be thrilled to have plants, trees or bushes sent to be planted at the farm in his memory.