EDWIN HAUGEN obituary

KREMLIN Edwin J. Haugen, 89, retired Kremlin farmer, died Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007, at the Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes.

Viewing will be held today from 1 p. m. to 4 p. m. and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cremation will take place and his memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Van Orsdel United Methodist Church with Pastor Richard Rice officiating. Military rites will be held outside the church following the service. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately after the military honors presentation. Interment will be held at Highland Cemetery at 3 p.m. Ed was born Oct. 12, 1917, on the family farm in Kremlin to Kristoffer and Kjersti (Evje) Haugen. He was raised and educated in Kremlin. He graduated from Hingham High School in 1936, due to the Kremlin school fire. After graduation, he farmed with his father in Kremlin. During World War II, he was drafted into the United States Army and then enlisted into the United States Army Air Corps serving as an airplane mechanic stationed in North Africa and Italy. After being honorably discharged in 1945 as a sergeant, he returned to Kremlin and farmed his family's land with his brother, John Haugen. Ed married Donna L. Purdy on Oct. 17, 1948, in Kremlin. The couple made their home on the family farm and raised their four daughters. Ed was a kind and gentle man, although, in spite of his quiet nature, you always knew where he stood on issues. He was a hard worker, preferring to operate at his own pace, working the land and raising cattle. He was a careful steward of his land and ran his operation with great pride. Ed was a communityminded person, serving the Kremlin area in many areas. He was treasurer of the Kremlin Lutheran Church, president of the Kremlin Commercial Club, served two terms on the Kremlin School Board, and served 25 years on the Farmers Union Board. He served on the Hill County Fair Board from 1970- 1986. His keen interest in early homesteader history of the area resulted in membership and service with the H. Earl Clack Museum, Montana Historical Society and the Montana Centennial Committee. Ed enjoyed reuniting with his Army buddies through his membership with the 301st Bombardment Wing Veteran's Association. Ed enjoyed tinkering and fixing things around the farm, along with leather working, oil painting, gardening and growing beautiful roses and flowers. He played baseball and bowled for many years, and practiced golfing in later years when he built and designed the 2-hole Haugen golf course. A Christmas present of a Lionel model train soon blossomed into a reproduction of the booming town of Kremlin, circa 1911, and now resides in the Rudyard Museum. Ed enjoyed taking his family on yearly camping trips to the Bears Paw Mountains as well as attending the Hill County Fair, even in the midst of harvest. Ed was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Donna in 2006; infant brother Johan Halvard; sister, Bertha Hoyer; and brother, John. Survivors include his daughters, Pamela Haugen of Great Falls, Vicki (Mike) Meek of Shelby, Kristi (Dusty) Kline of Kremlin and Julie Haugen of Pleasant Hill, Calif.; sister, Inga Sears of Long Beach, Calif.; sister- in-law, Beverly Haugen of Kremlin; grandchildren, Sara (Steve) Scheer of Great Falls, Cole Kline and Cortney Kline of Kremlin and Brennan Meek of Shelby; two great-granddaughters; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions in Ed's honor may be made to the H. Earl Clack Museum, the Havre-Hill County Library Foundation or a charity of one's choice. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.