Norman Eugene Haakenson, 76, Dickinson, passed away Monday, February 10th, 2025, at Sanford Health in Bismarck, ND. Norm’s Memorial Service will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, February 15, 2025 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with Rev. Toby Heller as officiant. Inurnment will take place at the Dickinson Mausoleum. Visitation will be on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ladbury Funeral Service.
Norm was born September 16th, 1948, in Williston at Good Samaritan Hospital, the son of Eilert and Marcella (Hermanson) Haakenson. He was raised and educated K through 12 in Tioga, along with his older brother Ernie and two sisters, Eloise and Myrna.
Upon graduating high school in Tioga Norm attended UND Williston for two years where he met a lovely young lady by the name of Vonda Lee Moore. And because of their meeting and quickly falling love, they were united in marriage in 1968 for 56 wonderful years. After both he and Vonnie graduated from UND Williston they then moved to Grand Forks and attended two more years at UND Grand Forks, from where Norm received he’s bachelors in Business Administration. Before departing Grand Forks Norm and Vonnie decided to start up the “Haakenson Production Company” and from this enterprise a first addition 1970 model was developed, Starla Lee Haakenson. The three of them packed up and moved to Dickinson, where Norm was appointed the General Manager of Montgomery Wards. Once again Norm and Vonnie’s Production Company generated a 1975 model, LaLonnie Jean Haakenson.
While Norm’s occupations consisted of Montgomery Wards as a first job after college, he was also in insurance, law enforcement, he and Vonnie owned a children’s clothing store in the mall, “Starlons.” However, most of his working life was in the oil and gas industry, specifically the safety side of the oil game.
During his time when not working and being a Dad, he was a longtime City of Dickinson volunteer firefighter and an EMT-I for the Dickinson Ambulance Service. Norm was also part of the Elks Lodge, the Kiwanis Club, a United Way board of director, JC’s, helped Vonnie with the Roughrider Commission, both racing and officiating at the local race car track and while retired in Arizona he and Vonnie were members of the “Community Emergency Response Team” otherwise known as CERT.
Norm was preceded in death by his parents, Eilert and Marcella Haakenson; in-laws, Tom and Dorothy Moore; brother, Ernie Haakenson; and sister, Myrna Will; brother-in-law, Ronnie Duncan; brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Sharon Conley; brother-in-law, Rodney Moore; and nephews, Stephen Duncan and Kevin Stern.
Norm is survived by his wife, Vonnie; daughters, Starla (Mike) Odegaard and LaLonnie (Eric) Lantz; grandchildren, Erik Odegaard, Stacy Bautz, and Aryn Odegaard; and a great-grandchild, Owen Miller; his sister, Eloise Duncan of Birmingham, AL; brother and sister-in-law, Lanny and Lois Moore of Grand Forks; and many nieces and nephews.
Norm’s family would like to gratefully acknowledge those that attended today’s services, and the many kind expressions of sympathy during their time of loss.
Time will help ease the pain of Norm’s passing; however, his memory will always be a reminder to us of just how privileged we were to have known and loved him. And to the people that never met Norm, they will never understand what they missed by not knowing this exceptional man.
