June Marie (Hakala) Haugen

SEQUIM, Wash. — June Marie (Hakala) Haugen, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, May 26, 2013, in Sequim, a few weeks before her 90th birthday.

She was born June 13, 1923, to John and Nannie Dagmar (Sarkela) Hakala in Norrie Location of Ironwood, Mich., and raised in Ironwood Township, the fourth of eight children. A 1941 graduate of Luther L. Wright High School, June attended Gogebic Junior College. She was active in 4-H, loved music, dancing, reading and singing. Family Christmases were special, and during her working years, she made every effort to be home.

In 1942, June left home to pursue work in the war effort in Detroit and later in San Diego. After the war, she moved to Seattle, where she met and married Eugene “Gene” Haugen on Dec. 17, 1949. They had five children: a son, Paul, and daughters, Geneen, Lori, Brita and Susan. Working for Honeywell, the family lived in Seattle, Denver and Sunnyvale, Calif., before retiring in Sequim.

June was an ardent golfer and enjoyed traveling throughout the States and abroad. She and Gene went on several cruises and especially looked forward to the one that would take them to a port in Finland where she might pick up some native soil to bring back to their family. A storm caused a cancellation of the stopover and she always had the sad feeling that the trip wasn’t complete.

June also enjoyed tent camping with their family, rain or shine, and was a latecomer to salmon fishing. Together with Gene, her sister Ilona and her husband, many boat trips were made, crossing the most dangerous ocean bar in the world out of Astoria, Ore., to catch the big ones.

She was preceded in death by her parents; adult daughter, Lori; brothers John, Robert, George and Merrill Hakala; and sister, Nan Helena Saari.

June is survived by her husband, Eugene, of Sequim; son, Paul Haugen, of Polson, Mont .; daughters, Geneen Haugen, of Boulder, Utah, Brita (Douglas) Clark, of Rochester, N.Y., and Susan (Olan) Bassett, of Taos, N.M .; sister, Ilona Mae (Roy) Hill, of Kelso; brother, Edward Hakala, of Anchorage, Alaska; sister-in-law, Jean Hakala, of Juneau, Alaska; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A private service will be held on June 13 in Sequim.

At June’s request, cremation has taken place. A portion of her ashes will be scattered at her parents’ grave at Sunset Acres Cemetery in Ironwood Township at a later date.