Dorothy Haugo

Dorothy Jean Haugo passed away peacefully on February 9, 2020, in Bloomington, Illinois. She was 92.

Dorothy was born June 27, 1927, to George and Lottie Fern Baxter (née Scarrott) in Bemidji. She graduated from Bemidji High School in 1945 and attended French’s Business College and Bemidji State College. She married Donald Warner in Bemidji in 1948. They lived in Minot, North Dakota, and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, with daughters Linda Marie and Gail Ann. She worked at Commercial Credit and Bemidji State College. In 1966, she married Richard Haugo. They moved to Grand Forks, where he completed his doctoral work and daughter Ann was born.

They returned to the Bemidji area, purchasing property near Nary. She was active in Nary Ladies’ Aid, Nary Homemakers, and Malvik Lutheran Church Ladies Aid. Their home hosted many activities, from quilting sessions for Lutheran World Relief donations to Farmers’ Union meetings and Hubbard County DFL events. She and Richard were frequently seen at Bemidji State University events and alumni gatherings. In 2006, they sold their property and moved into Bemidji.

In 2009, following Richard’s passing, she moved to Bloomington, Illinois, to be near daughter Ann and family. She lived at Luther Oaks, a retirement community that became her home for the next eleven years.

She is survived by daughters, Linda (Larry Currie) of Anniston, Alabama; Gail (Bill Sorenson) of Bemidji; and Ann (Steve Pelphrey) of Leroy, Illinois; six grandchildren: Kristin (Michael Cottle) of Sugar Hill, Georgia; Jeremy (Meredith) Currie of Calera, Alabama; and Matt (Tara) Currie of Double Springs, Alabama; Sara Staples of Bemidji; Richard Pelphrey of Port St. John, Florida; and Hannah Pelphrey of Leroy, Illinois; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Richard Haugo; brother Roland J. Baxter; son-in-law Bill Sorenson; and grandson, Ryan Sorenson.

Dorothy’s family thanks the compassionate staff of Luther Oaks in Bloomington, Illinois, who lovingly cared for Dorothy. Memorials are preferred to the Richard and Dorothy Haugo Scholarship Fund at Bemidji State University. A memorial service will be held in Bemidji, Minnesota, at a later date.