Ernest T. Haugen

Ernest T. Haugen, 90, of Coon Valley died Thursday November 10, 2011 at Vernon Memorial Hospital in Viroqua following a short illness. He was still farming up until a month ago. Ernest was born February 18, 1921 to John and Amanda (Brennum) Haugen in Timber Coulee, rural Coon Valley. The family moved to the South Ridge of Coon Valley in 1924 where he lived the rest of his life. He was baptized and confirmed at the Coon Valley Lutheran Church and attended Erickson School. Ernest farmed his entire life on the Haugen home farm with his brother Joseph. He was a strong believer and supporter of small farms and conservation and frequently wrote about it in local newspapers. The Haugen family farm was one of the first that initiated soil conservation practices that changed farming nationwide. It began in 1933 with the Coon Creek Watershed project. They have maintained all the original conservation practices to this day. Ernest was a self-taught carpenter and fixed everything on the farm. Every fence post on the farm was hand made. He was a lifetime member of the Sons of Norway in La Crosse and the Coon Valley Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his brother Joseph and many cousins, neighbors and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Arthur in 1937.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday November 15, 2011 at the Coon Valley Lutheran Church. Rev. Mitzi Miyamoto will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call on Monday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley and at the church on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until service time.