Shirley Hageness

Aug. 6, 1936-Sept. 17, 2025

Rugby

Shirley Mazel Hageness, 89, of Pleasant Lake, ND, passed away on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby, ND.

Funeral services will be Friday, September 26th, 2025, 1:00 PM at First Lutheran Church in Rugby with Pastor Sharon Baker officiating. Burial will be in the Knox Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday at the church from noon until the time of service.

Shirley Mazel Hageness was born August 6th, 1936, in Stanley, ND to Walter and Stella (McIntee) Larson, the 2nd oldest of five children. Growing up on the family ranch south of Ross, she attended grade school at the Spring Brook Country School.

In 1951, the family moved to the Northgate-Bowbells area, where the McIntee grandparents resided. Shirley attended Bowbells High School, graduating May 1954. All through her high school years, she was employed part time at the Burke County Agricultural Service office, where she continued working after graduation. At the same time, she took correspondence courses through the Minot State Teachers Collection to obtain her “3 Month Certificate” for teaching. Later, she transferred to the McKenzie County Ag Office, where she met and married Ivan Strand, and had five children, Ivan Jr., Kathy, Bonnie, Donnie and Elaine, as well as stepson Roger. While Ivan worked in the oil fields, Shirley began her teaching career as substitute teacher in many area schools. They later divorced, and Shirley pursued her teaching degree at Ellendale Teachers College, graduating in 1969.

That fall she started teaching high school math in Wolford, ND. She was remarried to a local farmer, Elvern Hageness, and they added three more children to the family, Patrick, Patricia and Margaret. The family settled on the family farm on Sand Lake north of Pleasant Lake, and Shirley continued her teaching career as a high school business teacher in Esmond, ND, teaching during the school year and spending summers working alongside Elvern and family on the farm. She taught in Esmond for many years, becoming iconic for her insistence that students behave in a “business-like” manner, use proper grammar, and ensuring they had critical math and reading skills. Her students have many fond memories of her classes. Whether preparing them for work or college, Mrs. Hageness made a big difference in the lives of many students.

While her teaching made a great impact, Shirley felt that she could do more for education by pursuing her master’s degree in education by going back to college on weekends and summers (bringing her children with to share in the adventure, of course!) Shirley eventually became the superintendent of the Esmond School District. She also spent many personal hours tutoring students and creating a local GED program for older students to get their high school diploma.

Shirley tried to retire several times, but her dedication to education kept her answering the call. After her tenure in Esmond, she was recruited to teach in a one room schoolhouse, the Harney School, just 10 miles south of the Iverson well, the first oil wellsite in North Dakota.

Afterwards, she returned to school administration, serving as interim principal at the South Prairie school south of Minot for a year. Even after she left that post, she continued to provide tutoring to any child who wanted a bit of extra help to succeed in school. Shirley was truly a champion for education in rural North Dakota and was recognized with many honors throughout her career.

Shirley was a kind, generous and caring person who opened her heart and home to many people along the way. She loved her family and was always there to support and encourage her children, especially in the pursuit of education.

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Elvern in 2011, her sons Ivan Jr. and Donald, her stepson Roger, her daughter Kathy Schmidt, daughter-in-law, Kim Strand, sister Dolly Moore of Miles City, MT, brothers Elgin Larson of Gillette, WY and Edgar Larson of Sturgis, SD, along with 3 nieces and 1 nephew. Shirly is survived by daughters, Bonnie Strand, Elaine Hornaday, Patricia Slaubaugh, Margaret Kvalevog, and son Patrick Hageness, 11 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren, her sister Pat Robbins of Knox and Rugby, her sister-in-law Berniece Larson of Gillette, WY, and several nieces and nephews.

Online condolences may be left at www.thenelsonfuneralhome.com

The Nelson Funeral Home of Leeds is in charge of the arrangements.

Published by The Pierce County Tribune, September 27, 2025.