Emma M. Laugen

Emma Marie Laugen, 94, a resident of Fergus Falls, entered in her final place of rest on Friday, October 23, 2015, at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.

Emma was born on July 3, 1921, in Aastad Township to Amund and Annie (Ekerhaugen) Lien. She was baptized and confirmed at Aastad Lutheran Church. Emma’s parents both died when she was very young. Emma moved in with various family members until she moved to Battle Lake, where she cared for a family in exchange for room and board during her freshman/junior years of high school. Through much adversity, Emma proudly graduated from the Fergus Falls High School in 1940.

On March 18, 1944, she was united in marriage to Elroy Laugen at Augustana Lutheran Church in Elizabeth, MN. Together they lived in Fergus Falls and had three children. Emma was a stay at home mother and wife and enjoyed sewing clothing for her children.

She was an active member of Augustana Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, where she was a part of Ladies Circle. She enjoyed volunteering her services to the quilting circle and helped assemble the church newsletter for many years, in addition to delivering meals on wheels.

Emma was a woman of true grit, surviving major loss in her early years and adversity throughout her life. She will be remembered for her quick smile and providing her family with sweet treats, including ice cream buckets of chocolate chip cookies for the grandchildren.

Emma was preceded in death by her parents, Amund and Annie; her husband, Elroy Laugen in 1995; a brother, Peter Lien; a sister, Dorothy Lien; an infant sister, Esther; and an infant great-grandson, Becket Klinnert.

She is survived by her two daughters, Karen (Keith) Spielman of Fargo, ND, and Gail (Dan Brekke) Laugen of Fergus Falls; one son, Keith (Paula) Laugen of Tomah, WI; four granddaughters, Andrea Connally, of Aurora, Co., Kerry (Todd) Pierce of Tomah, WI., Jackie (David) Rickert of Lakeville, MN., Abby (Dan) Clements of Stevens Point, WI.; one grandson, Cory (Holly) Klinnert of Moorhead, MN; one step-grandson, Matthew Spielman of Bismarck, ND; and nine great-grandchildren, Mason and Brianna Connally, Holden, Grace and Liv Klinnert, Landon and Delaney Pierce, Charlie Rickert and Theo Clements.

Memorials preferred to the National Stroke Association.

Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with a public prayer service at 6:30 p.m. and will resume one hour prior to the service at the Pioneer Celebration Center.
Service: 2 p.m. Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at Pioneer Celebration Center in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Kate Bruns
Interment: Knollwood Memorial Gardens in Fergus Falls