Cloudy, 27° F
(Nov. 19, 1942 - March 14, 2013)
Haakon Bruce Lie died March 14, 2013 at his home in Laurel, Mont., surrounded by his loved ones. He was 70. Haakon was born Nov. 19, 1942 at the Naval Air Station Base in Pensacola, Fla., the son of Leif and Doris Lie.
He grew up on a farm near Cyrus, Minn., where he attended school until going to the West Central School of Agriculture in Morris for his high school years, graduating in 1960. He completed a degree in business and accounting at the University of Minnesota, Morris in 1964.
Haak worked all his life, starting out as a teenager working on the Ray and Avis Brandt farm. They were lifelong friends. Haak worked at the Del Monte Plant in Stockton, Calif., the Farmers Union Cenex Co-op in Elbow Lake, and Battle Lake, Minn., as well as in Powell and Edgar, Mont. He worked part time for Helena Chemicals and H&R Block where he was named Value Participant for this region in 2005.
He was a deputy with the Carbon County Sheriff’s Reserve for the past 20 years, and served as secretary/treasurer of the Reserves.
Haak’s honest statements accompanied by his sense of humor were a great influence on many family members. A kind and generous soul, Haak sought out ways to help others in their time of need — he was first in line to ask “How can I hel?”
In 1975 Haak met and married the love of his life, Elisabeth Buehler of Wimmis, Switzerland. Together they made their home in Battle Lake, Minn., then Powell and, most recently, in Laurel, Mont. They traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe and especially enjoyed their travels to Hawaii and Australia. They enjoyed many years at Lake Rachel near Alexandria, Minn., for vacations at a family lake home as well as Lake Gage near Park Rapids, Minn.
Haak was a member of the Powell Elks Lodge 2303 where he was named Elk of the Year in 1982-83, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Masonic Golden Eagle Lodge 66 of Bridger, Mont. He joined the Private Pilot Association, was a member of the University of Minnesota Alumni, West Central School of Agriculture Alumni and attended services at the Methodist Church in Laurel. He became an EMT in 1988.
Haak enjoyed NFL football, was an avid reader, did daily crossword puzzles and liked writing poems. He obtained his private pilot’s license in 1971 in Oakland, Calif. He had fun planning trips and showing friends the best of Europe and he enjoyed his home in Laurel. He loved Minnetonka moccasins, cherry Twizzlers, Old Dutch “Haaky” chips and giving out Montana pins to acquaintances around the globe.
Surviving Haak is his wife Elisabeth; his brother Eric of Brisbane, Australia; sisters Bonne (John) Williams of Fargo, N.D., Laurie (Chuck) Lesmeister of Morris, Minn.; sisters of Elisabeth’s including Ruth Seiler (Renee) of Wimmis, Switzerland and Rosemary Zeller (Hansueli) of Fahrni, Switzerland.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, April 5, 2013 at the United Methodist Church, 307 West 4th Street, Laurel, MT 59044. At his request, cremation has taken place. As he wished, Haakon died at home with guidance from Riverstone Health Hospice and the devoted, caring efforts of Elisabeth as well as cousins Angela and Jimmy, Michelle and Derek, brother Eric and sister Bonne.
Memorials are suggested in Haakon’s name to the Carbon County Sheriffs Reserve, P.O. Box 230, Red Lodge, MT 59068. Online condolences may be shared with Haakon’s family at www.remingtonletcherfuneralservices.com
