Helen Hagen

Funeral services were held Thursday, June 17, 2010, at Bethany Lutheran Church, for Helen M. Hagen, 88, of Rugby, who died Friday, June 11 at Southview Estates in Rugby.

Burial was in Persilla Watts Cemetery.

Helen was born October 14, 1921, on a farm near Esmond, a daughter of Ingebret and Tina (Tollefson) Swingen. She was raised in the area, attended elementary school at Isabel School, rural Esmond, and graduated from Maddock High School. She graduated from the Good Samaritan School of Nursing, Rugby, in 1945 as a registered nurse, and graduated from Lutheran Brethren Bible School, Fergus Falls, Minn., in 1949. She worked as a nurse at the Good Samaritan Hospital. She married Richard Walter Hagen March 18, 1951, in Rugby. The couple farmed in Tofte Township, Pierce County. They moved into Rugby in November 1992. Richard died Oct. 27, 2003. In 2008, she moved into the Harold S. Haaland Home, and in April of 2010, she moved into Southview Estates.

She was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday School and Bible School, belonged to the quilters group, and held office in the W.E.L.C.A., and was a member of the Alumni Association of the Good Samaritan School of Nursing.

She is survived by her children, Bonnie Kuehnemund and Linda Korner, both of Rugby, Mark Hagen of Dilworth, Minn., and Dean Hagen of Sequin, Texas; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two brothers, Lorin Swingen of Ralston, Neb., and Edward Swingen of Rugby; and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and three brothers, “Axel” Gilmore, Ingvald, and Ted Swingen.

Rev. Philip D. Leer officiated. Music was provided by Laura Anderson, soloist, and Jane Ekren, organist.

Casketbearers were Alek, Alia, Andrew, Ariel, Josh, Maggie, and Tanya Hagen, Braden and Carrie Halvorson, John and Kyla Hastings, Jennifer and Rebecca Korner, and Jon Kuehnemund.

Arrangements by Niewoehner Funeral Home, Rugby.