Marian Haugen

Marian Haugen, age 88, of Fosston, MN, passed away on Thursday, March 3rd, at Essentia Health Hospital in Fosston. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 17th, at Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Fosston with the Rev. Mark Richardson officiating. Interment will be in Calvary Free Lutheran Cemetery, Fosston, in the spring. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with a 6:00 p.m. prayer service on Wednesday, March 16th, at the Carlin Funeral Home in Fosston. Family will also greet friends for one hour prior to the service on Thursday, March 17th, at the church. The service will be live-streamed on the Carlin Facebook page and recorded for viewing later on the Carlin website. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

On Thursday, March 3, 2022, the life of Marian Levina Haugen came to a peaceful end. Her 88 ½ years were filled with an abundance of love and joy and she was ready to meet her Savior. Marian was born on September 5, 1933 to Victor and Hulda Colsen at their home in Columbia township east of Fosston, Minnesota. Her early years were spent on that farm. At the age of 13, after her father died, she needed to find other living accommodations. For the next 5 years, until she graduated from Fosston High School in 1952, Marian stayed with various family members and finally shared a rented room in Fosston.

The fall after graduation, she married Norval Haugen and they began their 61 years of marriage. After living in a few different places in or around Fosston, in 1961 they bought the house in which Marian lived out her life. Together they built a home filled with love and welcomed their five children to share it. Susan, Bruce, Daniel, Amy, and Brian were all the grateful recipients of that haven of nurturing love.

After her children had all reached school age Marian began her long school bus driving career. Ultimately she ended up driving for over 40 years and she never lost the feeling that she was not alone while she drove. She would say, “No matter what kind of weather or situation, Jesus is always with me. I feel His presence.” She considered her time in her bus more of a ministry than a job and cared for her “bus kids” as her own. She was proud of the fact that in all of those years she had never had an accident.

A devout ChrIstian and member of Calvary Lutheran Church of Fosston, she was, in many ways, a true example of a Proverbs 31 woman. She cooked, sewed, quilted, gardened, canned, upholstered, refinished furniture, and painted pictures. Her home was always open to others and was often filled to overflowing with guests. Genuine hospitality and the ability to love others with open arms were her greatest gifts. Although she would have been the last person to think this, she was truly an amazing woman who had a zest for life that stayed with her until she died.

She is survived by her children; Susan (John) Berg of New York Mills, MN, Bruce Haugen of Fosston, Dan Haugen of Renton, Washington, Amy (Alan) Kachel of South Padre Island, Texas, and Brian (Karen) Haugen of Elk River, Minnesota. She is also survived by eight grandchildren; Jason (Jen) Haugen, Chrissy Munter (Ryan Norberg), Sarah (Tim) Jahnke, Carl (Laura) Berg, (Robin)Berg, Rachel (Christopher) Fencl, Kayla Kachel (Derek Scheuermann), Mariah (Jake)Kerr. Sixteen great grandchildren; Karey, Madison, Christian, and Chloe Haugen, Gabe, Selma, Caleb, and Seth Jahnke, Wyatt, Axel, Owen, and Carlie Munter, Natalie Scheuermann, Odin and Indigo Berg, Bergen Fencl and four great -great grandchildren. She is also survived by sister-in-law Gladys (Harold) Vig, many nieces, nephews and friends whom she loved dearly.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Norval Haugen, her parents, Victor and Hulda Colsen, her brothers, Edward and Roy Colsen and sisters Alice Johnson, Ethel Johnson, and Viola Larsen; and grandson, Erik Berg.