Ilene Lillian Haugen, daughter of Ivar and Lillian (Bakken) Goltz, was born on November 15, 1946, in New Ulm, Minnesota. She attended school in Comfrey and graduated from Comfrey High School in 1964. After graduation, Ilene pursued her passion for beauty by attending the Mankato School of Beauty, where she became a licensed cosmetologist.

She worked in Mountain Lake while patiently awaiting the return of her high school sweetheart, Leland, who was serving in the United States Army. The couple was united in marriage on August 12, 1967, at West Sveadahl Lutheran Church near Saint James, Minnesota. They briefly lived in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, until December 1967, when they returned to Comfrey to begin farming and raise their four children.

In addition to her role as Leland’s partner on the farm and as a homemaker, she worked for over 20 years as a site guide at the Jeffers Petroglyphs before retiring.

A true farm girl at heart, Ilene loved being outdoors and had a deep affection for animals. Above all, she cherished her family, and her grandchildren were her greatest joy. Ilene also had a passion for jewelry and was an avid collector of beautiful, sparkling pieces, each one a treasured keepsake. She also enjoyed watching the Minnesota Vikings play, NASCAR races, and old western television shows.

Ilene is survived by her children: Darren (Diane) Haugen of Comfrey; Raquel (Todd) Whitehill of Ankeny, Iowa; Brandon Haugen of Windom; and Jaime Haugen of Windom; as well as her grandchildren, Dylan Haugen and Deni Haugen; brother, Virgil (Rae) Goltz of Comfrey; Leland’s sisters, Ramona (Jim) Way, Sharon (Tom) Goltz and Marsha Therkilsen and sister-in-law, Barb Haugen.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leland, in 2024; her parents; her sister, Patricia Schlottman; her twin sister, Irene, in infancy; her brothers-in-law, Dale Schlottman Sr. and Gerald O. Haugen; and her nephew, Scott Way.

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