Melvin Alvin Hauge

Melvin A. Hauge, age 94 , of Blue Earth and formerly of Elmore, passed on September 1, 2019 at St. Luke's Lutheran Care Center in Blue Earth.

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2019, at 2:30pm at Shiloh Lutheran Church in Elmore with Rev. Bob Roettger officiating and internment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Blue Earth. Visitation will also be on Saturday at Shiloh Lutheran Church from 1pm – 2:30pm. Memorials may be given to Shiloh Lutheran Church.

Melvin A. Hauge was born to Malvin and Ella Hauge May 2, 1925 in Lacy, Miner County, South Dakota.  He was the sixth child born of twelve to Malvin and Ella.  He grew up on a family farm located five miles west of Lake Norden, So. Dak. He attended country school in Hamlin County through the sixth grade and graduated high school from Lake Norden.  Following two and one-half years, October, 1943 – February, 1946 in the Marines he enrolled and graduated from Huron College in Huron, So.Dak. With a teaching degree.  It was here that he met the love of his life Virginia Knudtson and they were married on November 22, 1950.  He began his teaching career in Florence, So. Dak. teaching junior high classes all subjects in 1950 through 1954;  next was teaching history and science in Clear Lake, So. Dak. 1954 through 1961; in 1961 a career in school administration was begun in Hudson, So. Dak. through 1964; a move to Garretson, So. Dak. was made in 1964 for one year; in 1965 he assumed the school superintendent positon in Askov, MN, which he held until 1967;  in 1967 he assumed the school superintendent positon in Elmore, MN which he held until 1990, at which time he retired for the first time;  later in 1990 he assumed the school superintendent positon in Browns Valley, Minnesota which he held through 1992;  in 1992 he became an Elementary Principal for the Graceville School District in Beardsley Valley, MN which he held until 1998.  In 1998 he retired for the second time.  He coached many athletic teams and individuals, primarily track and basketball, during his years in education.  He was especially proud of his basketball teams in Clear Lake and track teams in Hudson and Elmore.

 Very important to Melvin was his family and especially the grandchildren and great-grandchildren; the Hauge and Knudtson family reunions; the Hauge Heritage farm near Lake Norden, South Dakota.

Melvin was very proud of his military service as a Marine in World War II.  He initially enlisted in the Marines to search for his brother Bob who was listed as missing in the Quadalcanal area.  He was part of the military forces taking the islands of Okinawa, Pavuvu, Peleliu and Ryukyu in the southeast asian seas.  He was a long time member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War.

Melvin is survived by six sons and one daughter: Bob (Linda Frette) of Lake Crystal, MN; M. John (Laurie Dinsmore) of Sioux Falls, SD; Kathy (Michael Bauer) of Gilbert, AZ; Tom (Deb Fischer) of Madisonville, TN; Phil (Rita Asmus) of New Ulm, MN; Dan (Cheryl Foote) of Sioux Falls, SD; David (Cesar Jamie) of Anaheim, CA; sixteen grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; Sisters Dorothy, Mabel, Clara and Brother Richard; also many nieces and nephews, family and friends.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Virginia of 61 years on February 24, 2012; six brothers and one sister, two brothers died as babies and brother Bob was killed in World War II; several brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws; several nephews; other family and friends.

The family would like to thank the staff of St. Luke's Lutheran Care Center, Dr. Johnson and Hospice for their loving care of Melvin.