Pastor Wesley Norman Haugen

Wesley Norman Haugen was born April 13, 1931 in Staples, MN, the son of Norman and Luella Haugen. He was baptized at First Lutheran Church, now Faith Lutheran, on April 26, 1931. He confirmed his faith on June 9, 1946.

Wesley attended elementary school in Staples except for 1 ½ years when his family lived in Jamestown, ND.

Upon graduating from Staples High School in 1949, Wesley enrolled in Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. During the summers of his college years Wesley worked for the Forest Service in ID. He then graduated from college in 1953 and attended Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, MN.

On December 19, 1954 Wesley was married to LuAnn Turmo in Norman Lutheran Church in rural Kindred, ND.

Wesley interned at First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, MN under the tutelage of Pastor Christian Preus. He was ordained for the ministry of the Gospel on June 23, 1957 at First Lutheran in Staples.

Wesley’s first call was to English and Bethany Lutheran Churches in Grantsburg, WI. In 1962, he accepted a call to be an associate with Rey Tange, Our Saviours in Canby, MN. In 1966, he was called to serve First, Trefoldighed and Rindal Churches in Battle Lake, MN. In 1974, he was called to be senior pastor at Grafton Lutheran Church in Grafton, ND.

In 1984, Wesley was elected to be Bishop of the Eastern North Dakota District of the American Lutheran Church. In 1988, he was elected Bishop of the Eastern North Dakota Synod of the ELCA.

Wesley began to serve St. John and Bethany Lutheran Churches in Hatton, ND until health issues made for an early retirement. After that he served various interims and supply situations.
Wesley and his wife made their home in Moorhead, MN.

Pastor Haugen is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Wilbur.

He is survived by his two sisters, Dorothy McCarty of Minneapolis, MN and Harriet (Earl) Halverson of Big Lake, MN. Also by his dear wife, LuAnn and four children: Timothy Haugen of Trinidad, CO; Kristen (Wayne) Tisdale of Grafton, ND; Eric (Shelly) Haugen of Willmar, MN; and Kari (Don) Roberts of Austin, TX. Along with 8 grandchildren: Megan (Cory) Miskowiec, Abby (Lee) West, Erika (Eric Torkelson) Tisdale, Connor Haugen, Anne Haugen, Grace Haugen, Logan Roberts and Kayla Haugen; and 2 great grandchildren: Cash West and Billy Miskowiec.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Olivet Lutheran Church of Fargo or Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN.

In addition to the memorial service on Wednesday, friends are invited to join the family for a graveside service and burial at 10:30 on Thursday, September 10th at the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery, followed by fellowship at Grafton Lutheran Church.