Grace Haugen, 89

Grace Haugen age 89 of Slayton, MN, formerly of Currie, MN died Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at the Murray County Medical Center in Slayton, MN.  Services were hdl Saturday, January 14, 2012 at the Christ Lutheran Church in Slayton, MN.     Interment was in the St. Olaf Cemetery, south of Walnut Grove, MN. The Almlie Funeral Homes of Westbrook, Tracy and Balaton are handling the service.

Online condolences may be placed at www.almliefh.com 

Grace Arlett Haugen was born July 3, 1922 to Henry and Olga (Olson) Leseman in Northome, MN, Koochiching County.  She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and attended Northome Public Schools, graduating from Northome High School in 1940. 

On June 7, 1940 Grace married William Bloch in Cloquet, MN.  They made their home on a farm south of Westbrook, MN for 18 years, and they had two children.  During that time Grace worked in a Westbrook restaurant and as a clerk in the hardware store.  She also worked for Swanson’s in Worthington for a short time. 

In 1961 Grace married John Haugen in Las Vegas, NV and they made their home in California for eight years.  There she worked as a professional scriber on aircraft parts in Paramount, CA.  After returning to Minnesota, they operated a hardware store in Miltona, MN and then the Gamble’s Store in Tracy, MN.  They made their home in Currie, MN.

Grace was a past member of the Garvin Lake Sarah Lutheran Church in Garvin, MN, the Willow Lake Lutheran Church, rural Tracy, MN and a current member of the Christ Lutheran Church in Slayton, MN.  She was active over the years in both the VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries in several communities and served as President of the Currie American Legion Auxiliary.  Grace enjoyed gardening, sewing, cooking, bowling, hunting and her favorite pastime, fishing.

In April of 2002, Grace became a resident of the Golden Living Center in Slayton, MN.  On Tuesday, January 10, 2012 Grace entered Murray County Medical Center in Slayton, where she died, surrounded by her loving family, on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at the age of 89.

Grace is survived by her one daughter, Wilma Tasler of Windom, MN; one son, Wallace (Betty) Bloch of Okabena, MN; five grandchildren; six great grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Her parents, husbands, William Bloch and John Haugen, step-son, US Marine Cpl Edward J. Haugen, killed in Vietnam, ten brothers and three sisters preceded her in death.