Cathy Leigh Haugen
November 12, 1956 - December 30, 2010
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Cathy Leigh Haugen
November 12, 1956 - December 30, 2010
Obituary
Cathy Leigh Haugen passed away at her home in Mission Viejo, CA on December 30, 2010. Cathy was born on November 12, 1956 in Northern Minnesota. She grew up on her parents’ farm in Beltrami with her brother, Bruce, and her sister, Chrys.
Cathy graduated from Fertile-Beltrami High School in 1975 and attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis receiving a degree in Dental Hygiene.
She married Dan Haugen, of Fertile, on October 12, 1979 and they moved to San Diego. Her son, Austin was born in San Diego on December 16, 1985. Over the course of their 32 year marriage, they lived in San Diego, Atlanta, Santa Barbara, Denver and Mission Viejo. She practiced Dental Hygiene for 18 years and retired in 1994.
Cathy was generous, good hearted, had a great sense of humor and was a lively conversationalist. She was tenacious and tireless when it came to helping others and making them feel special. Her faith and her family were the most important things in her life.
Many times she was heard saying her biggest accomplishment in her life was her son, Austin. Cathy spent many years volunteering at Austin’s schools. She was always the ‘room mom’ of the class, the team mom, the Cub Scout leader, the school auction organizer, and the organizer of many other school events.
She is survived by her husband, Dan, her son, Austin, her parents, Walter and Charlene Stromstad, her brother, Bruce Stromstad, and sister, Chrys Stromstad O’Neill.
Cathy was a beloved wife and devoted mother and will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
31 responses to Cathy Leigh Haugen
T.J. Mancuso says:
January 6, 2011
Dan: You and Cathy were just so important in our lives. I am truly sorry for your loss.
Ann Bartlett says:
January 7, 2011
To Dan and Austin,
Our hearts are so saddened by the sudden loss of such a truly incredible person. We have been thinking of her and of you both so much, and always will. Dan, she spoke so often of how lucky she was to have you, and Austin, it was obvious to everyone no mother could ever have loved or been more proud of her son than she. What a gift her friendship was! Both of us being from the Midwest and dental hygienists, with sons who became such close friends, created a bond of a lifetime. I cherished the years she lived in Santa Barbara, and loved hearing about all of her and your family’s adventures after that.
We will never forget her, and I know she will be looking down on us all always with love and smiles.
Ann, Bruce, Cord, and Nick
kellie longo says:
January 7, 2011
Dear Dan and Austin,
I’m so saddened to hear of Cathy’s passing. She is truly a beautiful woman inside and out. I pray that you are filled with peace and strength during this very difficult time. You are both weighing heavily on my heart and in my prayers.
Much Love and Deepest Sympathy
Nora and Steve Van Hook says:
January 7, 2011
We are so sad to hear this unexpected news. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers. She was such a beautiful, kind and giving woman!
Barbara and Duane Dunsmore says:
January 9, 2011
I’m so sorry to hear about Cathy! It was such a shock and my heart goes out to Dan and Austin. Cathy was a wonderful person and always spoke with such love for her family. She will be deeply missed.