Kathryn L. Haggen

Kathryn Lee (Bartels) Haggen, 75, of Mandan, ND, beloved wife of Mike Haggen, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday, August 20th at First Lutheran Church in Mandan. Interment will be at 11:00 AM at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, followed by a luncheon at the Mandan Eagles Club.

Visitation will take place one hour prior to time of funeral service at the church.

Kathy was born Sept. 9, 1948 in Elgin, ND, the fourth of seven children born to Julius & Ellen Bartels. She graduated from Elgin High School in 1966 and Bismarck Junior College in 1968 with a medical transcriptionist degree. She was active in cheerleading, band, and choir throughout high school and college. Kathy married Mike Haggen on July 26, 1969. They lived in St. Paul, MN until 1978 when Mike’s job with IBM transferred them to Mandan, ND. Kathy then worked at Medcenter One, Mid Dakota Clinic, and Ellingson Eye Clinic. She transitioned to retirement by working a fun job as a lunch lady at Horizon Middle School. 

Kathy enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Both Mike and Kathy were involved with many local clubs and organizations which led them to having many friends in Mandan. They were active members of First Lutheran Church where she enjoyed singing in the church choir. They were also active members of the Moose and Eagles Club, where Kathy frequently played piano for various meetings. She appreciated music her entire life. She played piano for sing-alongs at several nursing homes. Kathy also played clarinet with the Missouri River Community Band and was an original member of the West River Winds Band. She loved nothing more than spending summers at the lake, camping and catching big fish! Kathy loved her dogs Buster and Scooter. Anyone who knew Kathy was aware of her giant pig collection. She held a collection in her basement that rivaled any pig collection anywhere! She loved to laugh and always had an Ole & Lena joke ready to share.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents and in-laws (Neal & Mildred), her sister (Sharon McNaughton), and brother (Kerry Bartels).

She is survived by her husband, Mike Haggen of Mandan; daughter, Michelle “Kelly” and husband Brad Maier of Broomfield, CO, and their children, Megan (Joel) Crank, Riley, & Tyler; her son, Brent and wife Michele of Valdosta, GA, and their sons Dylan & Cooper; her sisters, Patricia (Carl) Berg of Tempe, AZ, Judy Bartels, and Marilyn Palmer, both of Stanley, WI; brother, Donald (Debra) Bartels of Medford, OR; sister-in-law, Marie Bartels of Dayton, OH; along with many nieces & nephews.

In the famous words of Kathy’s much loved show, the Lawrence Welk Show, her life was as “wonderful, wonderful” as she made all of ours.