Avis Haug

Avis Lorraine (Bredeson) Haug was born to Sanna and John Bredeson in Lawton, ND on April 25, 1933.  She attended grade and high school in Lawton, ND.  After high school she attended Mayville State College to become an elementary teacher.  She taught at various rural schools in Edinburg, Park River, ND and Langdon, ND.

Avis was married to Arthur Haug in Fairdale, ND on June 12, 1955, and they moved to Langdon where Arthur was a high school music teacher.  They moved to several cities as Arthur was a school administrator and children, Jacquelyn, J. Arthur, Tamara, Crayton, and Andrea were born.  After settling in Osakis, MN in 1966, where Arthur was a high school principal for 20 years, they purchased a resort on Lake Osakis where Avis was the main operator.  It was during this time in Osakis where Avis was very influential in church and community life.  She taught Sunday School, Release Time school, was on the Church Council and was a Chairwoman, was a School Board Member for 10 years and was chairwoman also.  It was during this busy time that she also found time to attended Alex Tech College to get her nursing degree and went on to become a nurse at Douglas County Hospital for over 20 years.  She was very respected and highly thought of as a nurse and gained many friends among patients and fellow workers who remembered her for her thoughtful care.

She was a great mother, grandmother and friend as she prepared many holiday meals for family and friends and entertained at almost every holiday occasion.  In retirement in 2007, Avis and Arthur moved to Alexandria, where she was a member of First Lutheran Church and a member of Anna Circle.  Avis was also very active and involved in the North Dakota Teachers Association, Minnesota School Boards Association, PEO Sisterhood, Osakis Lutheran Church and First Lutheran Church and the Minnesota Nurses Association.

She was a proud wife, mother, and grandmother, who loved to interact with people in her own quiet way.  She was a good cook who loved to can garden vegetables every year.  She took pride in elementary teaching as was indicated by the many former pupils who noticed her years later.  She also took great interest in serving on the Osakis School Board where she was well respected when she acted as Chairwoman and had to make many difficult decisions.  Some of her friends on the school board called her “My Queen” and others after she pushed for agenda items in the construction program like the “fine arts theatre” called her the “Big Kahoona” quite respectfully.  All through the years on the Board she represented the people of Osakis in an admirable fashion.

Avis died on Sunday, September 2, 2018, at Knute Nelson in Alexandria at the age of 85.  She is survived by husband, Arthur; children, Jacquelyn (Randy) Walsh, J. Arthur (Mary) Haug, Tamara (Rick) Schultz, Andrea (Carlos) Haug de Martinez; grandchildren, Kristin (Matthew) Dehmer, Matthew (Nicole) Walsh, Jared (Elizabeth) Haug, Kari (Brad) Steber, Angela (Josh) Beutz, Jessica and Brianna Schultz, and Eric and Lars Martinez Haug; great-grandchildren, Sophia, Samuel, Louisa Dehmer, and Jerica Bryson, Leighton Steber, Ryland and Hayden Beutz, and Arianna Larson; sister, Judy Nelson; and many nieces and nephews.  Avis is preceded in death by her parents, John and Sanna, son, Crayton, brothers, Vernon, Allen and Earl, and sister, Lucille.

A special thank you to Knute Nelson and Knute Nelson Hospice for the wonderful care and support.

A Funeral Service will be held 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 8, 2018, at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria.  Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM on Friday, September 7, 2018, at the Anderson Funeral Home and for one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Inurnment will be held at Gordon Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Osakis.