Hollyday Haanen

On Monday, December 18, 2017, Holly Haanen crossed over to the Spirit World.

Holly was born on September 10, 1948 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Alexandria, MN.  She grew up in Alexandria and graduated from Jefferson Senior High School in 1966.

Her early years were spent in Minneapolis working as a receptionist and administrative assistant at Investors Diversified Services.

In the early 1970’s she was married and moved to California with her husband who was stationed there in the Navy.  While living in California she got swept into the fast lane of drugs and alcohol.  Her marriage ended soon thereafter.  She remained in California and her lifestyle led her to depression and despair.  She soon moved back to Minnesota and her demons came with her.

For several decades, she tried to escape those demons through counseling and prescription medications.  It was a long, dark and lonely chapter in her life.  In her 50’s, Holly began to find some comfort and purpose in her life through Native American Spirituality.

In the summer of 2009, she decided to turn her life over to the loving, healing spirit of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and was baptized.  From that day on, her desire for drugs and alcohol was miraculously removed from her life through the healing power of her Savior, Jesus Christ.  Although her challenges did not end there, how she faced them with Gods help changed dramatically.  The new Holly can be described as a woman of grace, forgiveness, love and unwavering devotion to her family, friends and her dogs…all of which she loved dearly.

Holly spent the last years of her life fighting breast cancer and nurturing her relationships with family and friends.  Humor, courage, tenacity, grace, dignity and faith in our Lord characterized the final eight years of her life.

Holly was proceeded in death by her mother, Lonnie (Haanen) Drussel, and her father, Charles (Chic) Haanen.  She is survived by her son, Brendon Prigge (wife Alice) of Eden Prairie, and her daughter, Autumn Bennett of New Hope;  Holly’s brother’s, Clyde Horlick of Bemidji, Greg (Gayle) Haanen of Alexandria, Rod (Mary Jane) of International Falls;  grandchildren, Weston, Michala and Jayce Prigge; nieces and nephews, Heidi Vangen, Blythe Hoffman, Heather Camping, Jeff Haanen, Grace and Will Haanen.

A Celebration of Life will be held 11 AM Friday, December 22, 2017 at the New Life Christian Church in Alexandria. Reverend John Taplin will officiate. Honorary pall bearers are Helen Flodstrom, Mona Schultz, Wendy Haner, Dee and Bob Kuhlman, and all of Holly’s AA friends who supported her in her sobriety. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 AM Friday at the church.