Rogene Aadnes
Rogene Margaret Aadnes, 86, of Towner, died at the Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby on September 1, 2009. She was born on her parents’ homestead five miles south of Sanish, North Dakota, on February 27, 1923. Her parents were Gerhard and Beatrice (Wolding) Gullickson. She attended school at Sanish and graduated from high school in Walla Walla, Washington, in 1941.
She moved to Long Beach, California, and attended business college there. Her family had concerns about her living in California after the attack on Pearl Harbor, so she returned to North Dakota. She graduated from Capital Commercial College in Bismarck and worked at the State Auditor’s office. She returned to California and worked for two years as a secretary for the Long Beach Army Air Transport Command. In 1944 she returned to North Dakota and worked at a grain elevator in Minot.
She married Rolf Aadnes on June 20, 1945 in Stanley, North Dakota. They moved to Van Hook and lived there until Rolf entered the U.S. Army in the fall of 1945. They lived at Fort Lewis and Seattle, Washington, before returning to North Dakota in 1947, where they lived in New Town, Minot, Upham and Towner. She worked at the Towner Nursery, cafes in Towner and the McHenry County Treasurer’s office. In 1974 she began working her most enjoyable job as a nurse’s aide at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Rugby.
She was very active in the Towner community as a member of the Green Thumb, Senior Citizens, Senior Meals, Zion Lutheran Church and Circles, the Homemakers Club, the VFW Auxiliary, the Whist and Birthday Clubs. She enjoyed traveling around the United States and took three trips to Norway. She moved to Rugby in 2004.
Rogene’s grandkids and great-grandkids brought an extra special smile and a light to her eyes. She felt being called “Greatma” was an honor. Rogene was very proud of her family. She cherished each and every moment she could spend with them. She gave us many happy memories – whether it be sleep-overs at her apartments; the King of the Hill hayrides; the motel stays; the baseball games or getting to stand back-to-back with Gramma to see who was taller. The children thought they were really somebody when they got to be taller, even though it happened around the age of 10 or so! Thanks, Mom and Gramma, for the memories. We love and miss you. We know you will watch over us all from up above as our Guardian Angel.
She is survived by her children: Ronald and wife Shelly, Stanley; Gwen and husband Bob Green, Towner; Karen and husband Jim Gattis, Mission Viejo, California; David and wife Pam, Washburn; and Gary and wife Jane, Thompson Station, Tennessee; and daughter-in-law Karen Aadnes, Shelton, Washington.
She also leaves 20 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchldren; two brothers, Dene Gullickson, Florida, and O.T. Gullickson, Washington.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Rolf, on September 3, 1982; a son, Wayne, on May 6, 2009; and a brother, Gordon Gullickson.
Funeral services were held at Zion Lutheran Church, Towner, on Monday, Sept. 7, 2009. Rev. Tim Solberg and Wally Fretland officiated. Louise Korfmacher was the organist with Brandy Aadnes as soloist. Pallbearers were: Brady, Eric, Sam, Shane and Steward Aadnes; Gary & Luke Gattis; James & Justin Green; Terry Jones; and Chris & Mark Miller. Honorary pallbearers were her great-grandchildren and granddaughters. Burial was in Van Hook Cemetery, New Town, N.D.
Arrangements by Niewoehner Funeral Home, Rugby.