Cleo Hauge

Cleo Blanche (Simington)Hauge was raised on her family's farm near Ruthven, Iowa. Upon graduating high school from Ruthven in 1948, she worked in Spencer as a waitress at the North Y. Soon after, she moved to Spokane, Washington, with her Uncle Rav and Aunt Stena. Later, she ventured to Seattle, Washington, where she met Roy. The two of them married a short time later; before Roy left to go overseas. Cleo returned to Iowa, and worked until Roy was safely discharged from the Army. Following Roy's time of service, they moved to St. Paul for a short time, and finally returned to Iowa again to be closer to her family. In 1960, they moved to Milford where Cleo set up an in-home daycare. In 1966, they bought the Texaco gas station in Milford and ran the family business until 1976. During this time, she enjoyed being a Den Mother for Gene and Russ' boy scout troops. After selling the gas station, she worked at the Milford Nursing Home for two years. Before retiring at the age of 62, she was a teachers' aide for many years at the Milford School District. During the summer, she cooked for the campers at the Lutheran Bible Camp. After retirement, she enjoyed spending time with her family, drinking coffee with her sisters, playing a hot game of 500 with the grandkids, and helping the "old people" at the Milford Nursing Home play bingo (even though she was probably older than some of them!). She also enjoyed tending to her flowers, cooking at family gatherings, and celebrating the holidays. Cleo was the Chaplin for the Auxiliary that makes rugs for the Veterans. Most importantly, Cleo loved when her family gathered together to make memories. Cleo passed away on July 3, 2013 at the Spencer Municipal Hospital at eighty-two years of age. Survivors include her husband of sixty-two years, Roy; children, Gene (Judy) Hauge, Russ Hauge, Deb (Dick) Jostand; grandchildren, Jacob (Kristen) Jostand, Travis (Bethany) Jostand, Kori (David) Lux, Nolan Hauge, Cara Hauge, Madison Hauge; five great-grandchildren; brother, Daniel Simington; sisters, Joann Kemp, 'Doris Anderson. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Clementine Simington, brothers, Chuck, Jim and Dean Simington and sister, Opal Swanson. Service: 11 am, Saturday, July 6, 2013, at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji, Iowa. Interment: Milford Cemetery in Milford, Iowa. Visitation: after 4 pm Friday, July 5, 2013 with the family present from 5-7 pm at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford.