First Rate Care

Vera Hauge

Vera L. Hauge was born on February 12, 1929 to William (Bill) and Jennie (Howell) Adriance in Williams, MN. She joined an older sister, Dorothy Adriance Compton. As a child, she was her father’s sidekick and learned many outdoor activities including farming. When she was 16, her father passed away so she did all the driving of her mother.

During the summer after her father passed away she was a chauffer for a neighbor lady that traveled around selling her husband’s creations. During one of those stops she met her future husband.

She attended grade school and high school in Williams, MN graduating in 1947. Following graduation, she went to Sioux City, Iowa to attend cosmetology school. She came back to Fargo, ND after graduating cosmetology school to work at a local department store.

After many letters were exchanged, she was united in marriage to Maynard Hauge on September 17, 1949 in Fargo, ND. They were blessed with 5 children: Carol Swenby, Fertile MN, Patricia Balstad Byron MN, Mark Hauge, St. Cloud MN, Kimberly Mahlum, Fertile MN, and Henry (Hank) Hauge, Dilworth MN. She has 14 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and 5 great great grandchildren.

For many years, the family wintered in Brownsville, TX until her father and mother-in-law passed away. The family lived at Cummings, ND until moving to Fertile, MN in 1967. The majority of her employment was in food service. She also worked at Fair Meadow for 20 years in the dietary department. She continued to work at Fair Meadow after her husband, Maynard passed away on October 6, 1994 until she retired. She absolutely loved her job there and loved the residents and liked to spoil them on occasion with their favorite foods.

Vera has many hobbies. For many years she decorated many wedding cakes both locally and beyond. She also would demonstrate how to make all the flowers she made for the cakes. She made the wedding cakes for her 5 children. She loves to color and embroidery. She is known for making doughnuts and lefse. Vera is a great baker and a good cook. Her girls learned from her how to do many of her favorite hobbies such as cooking and baking (the boys did too).

Vera lived with her daughter for just about 2 years following a fall at her home. She entered Fair Meadow in April 2023.

Vera is a member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Fertile, MN. She participated in circle and anywhere she could be of service.