MARY LOUISE HAUGAN

MARY LOUISE HAUGAN January 10, 1937 ~ December 17, 2025
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our mom, Mary Lou Haugan, on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the age of 88 years. Mary Lou is survived by her children, Pam (Phil), Byron (Sheila), Lyndon (Karin) and Arden (Diana); 13 grandchildren, Kendra, Nevin, Colin, Courtney, Brodie, Alexa, Charlotte, Delaney, Martie, Everett, Nickola, Karli and Erika as well as 7 great-grandchildren, Neve, Ailish, Brooks, Sasha, Raya, Remy and Millie. She was predeceased by her grandson, Tate, in 1994 as well as her husband, Henry, on October 8, 2023.
Mary Lou was born January 10, 1937, to Arthur (Art) and Josephine (Joey) Peters and was raised on her grandfather Peters’ Homestead north of Elkwater, AB. Predeceased by her parents and her youngest brother Dick and his wife Leona; survived by her older brother Tom (Cathy).
She received her education at Montgomery School, Elkwater until grade 9 then went on to Medicine Hat High School for grades 10 to 12. She then boarded at the Division 4 Dormitory for rural high school students. Her courses were in Secretarial Training and her first job was as Office Secretary at the Crystal Dairy in Medicine Hat.
It was at a Dairy bowling party that she met Henry Haugan. Mary Lou always vowed that when her first kiss happened, she’d know that she had found that special love that she was looking for.
Henry and Mary Lou were married October 23,1955, at 5th Avenue Memorial United Church in Medicine Hat, with the reception held in the original Elkwater Community Hall.
Together, over the next 60 years, Henry and Mary Lou worked hard to expand the farms land base. They shared a life of accomplishments with devotion to each other. They worked hard balancing busy lives and supported each other as they raised their 4 children. Mary Lou would often go out and help Henry feed the cattle in the winter. There were many hot, delicious meals served in the fields to Henry and his dad Lars as well as the farm hands during the months of haying and harvest.
Mary Lou also took great pride in their farm yard and could be found on her tractor mower keeping the grass tidy. Along with caring for the yard and gardens, she took on the job of scraping and painting all of the farm buildings and the picket fences until her heart arrhythmia kept her off of ladders and the bucket of the frontend loader (which she stood in while painting the barn).
Proudly, Mary Lou always had large vegetable gardens and developed a yard of beautiful flowers both of which she tended with a great deal of energy and devotion; including carrying hoses/pails around to get the precious water to all in the heat of the summer! Her crops were bountiful and her children and grandchildren all took part in the picking of peas, beans, corn, raspberries and more!
Her kitchen during the summer was filled with canning fruits and freezing vegetables while baking bread, cakes and other treats. She often entered her baking in fairs along with her sewing. Mary Lou sewed clothes for her 4 kids while they were growing up and then moved on to sew her own square dance outfits. Next came many beautiful quilts which her children and grandchildren now cuddle under remembering her.
Mary Lou and Henry were active members of the Orion Community Association and Mary designed and made many beautiful posters for the events that were scheduled for the Hall. She took part in the Women’s Institute, the SE Agricultural Society, the 4-H Sewing Club as an active participant and often as a Leader.
Henry and Mary Lou also experienced a variety of travel destinations, some of which included Nashville, Norway, New Zealand, and the Philippines. They loved to social dance a fun chapter for them were the 8 years they spent square dancing.
Through the years she helped to plan family reunions, Christmas pot lucks in Elkwater at the Community Hall with her cousins who she remained close to and who always, always gave us a good laugh!
In 2019, Henry and Mary Lou retired to their condo in the Cotton Wood Coulee Villas in Medicine Hat. Mary Lou was so thankful for the comfort, serenity and special view across the coulee and of the golf course below…… with her pet Pheasant. A small sense of the prairie.
Mary Lou enjoyed family and friends stopping by to say ‘Hello’.
She was thankful for her various caregivers Brenda, Shirley, Gord, Maria and Aimee Rose. She felt blessed for a wonderful life!
A Celebration of Mary Lou’s life will be held at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Murray Jaster officiating. Fellowship will follow thereafter in the Reflections Reception Facility. The Celebration will be live-streamed. Those who cannot attend but wish to experience the service should visit the funeral home’s website and select the View Broadcast button on the homepage at service time. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting our website at www.cooksouthland.com) Memorial donations in Mary Lou’s name may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 100, 119 – 14 Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1Z6. Honoured to serve the family is

Cook Southland Funeral Chapel Crematorium & Reception Facility 901 – 13th Street S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4 Phone 403-527-6455 www.cooksouthland.com “Locally owned & directed”