Barbara Mae Haugen

December 30, 1942 - May 2, 2017

Barbara Mae (Engan) Haugen, age 74, of Spring Grove, Minnesota, died on Tuesday, May, 2, 2017, at home, with her children, Phyllis, Debrah and Jeffrey present, also her brother Maynard Engan. Barbara was born on December 30, 1942, the daughter of Palmer and Alice (Nelson) Engan in Decorah Iowa. Barbara was baptized on April 15, 1943 at Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church, Dorchester, IA and confirmed on May 26, 1957 at Big Canoe Lutheran Church, Decorah. Barbara attended Spring Grove public school. She lived in the area until she moved to Itasca Il, in 1971, then to Bensenville, Il, until she returned to rural route Decorah, Iowa (Quandahl) in 1998. Two of the most important things to Barbara were to do right by God and her children. With the love of God and her family, Barbara believed a person could get through the most difficult times in life. She believed that God and family made all of life’s pleasures even greater. Barbara loved the country, right here in Southeast Minnesota, Northeast Iowa. She loved everything about this area. The beauty, her childhood memories, the people, her church and her place in Quandahl where she lived until just recently when she moved into town, Spring Grove. For many of the years that Barbara lived in Quandahl ,she had her sister Polly Stoen (Engan) and her brother Maynard Engan living on each side of her. She loved those days. Barbara loved bringing her grandchildren to visit for weeks over the summer. Her greatest joys were making them chocolate malts, taking them for swimming lessons in Spring Grove, bringing them to Decorah for bowling, the movies and, of course, the Whippy Dip. She talked about those times over and over. Oh, there was one last thing Barbara loved and that was a clean house. Even the dust wiped its feet or took off its shoes before coming inside. Barbara is survived by her daughters Phyllis Nelson (Don) Bensenville, Il, Debrah Ralph (John) Bensenville, Il and son Jeffrey Tollefsrud (Nancy) Waterloo, Iowa. Nine grandchildren, Jeff B, Brandie, Jeff T, Jancy, Jennifer, Amy, Cory, Eric, Courtney, great grandchildren Jordan, Kyle, Arianna, Bryce and Izabella, Cameron (due date May 16,2017). Brother Maynard Engan. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Palmer and Alice (Nelson) Engan , sister Palma (Engan) Stoen, brothers Selmer, Earl and Ernest Engan. Niece Sharon (Engan) Melver. Nephews Harlen Engan and Larry Stoen. Great nephews Dustin Stoen and Ernie Engan, Jr.