John Vaagene

John Vaagene, 79, of Hatton, ND passed away Thursday, May 9, 2019 at his home in Hatton. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Hatton. A visitation will be held Monday, May 13, 2019 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service at the Hatton Prairie Village Chapel in Hatton.

John C. Vaagene was born November 15, 1939 in Northwood, ND, the son of Paul and Kathleen (Hanson) Vaagene. He grew up on a farm in the Hatton area. He attended Newburgh #4 country school his first seven years and then to Hatton Public School where he graduated from Hatton High School in the spring of 1957. John was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Hatton.

John entered the United States Army in November of 1958 until 1960. He was then recalled back into the army in November of 1961 during the Berlin Crisis. On July 1, 1961, John married Betty Plaine. They had three children. He worked for the elevators in Hope and Berthold, ND and Flaxville, MT. In 1969, John moved back to the family farm in Hatton, where he milked cows, farmed and worked for Wickes Agriculture, managing the bean plant. In 1979, he was promoted to operations manager for Mindak. John moved off the farm and into Hatton in July of 2008.

John was a member of the Hatton American Legion and was a sergeant at arms. He served on the St. John Lutheran Church Council, taught Sunday School, was president of North Central Bean Dealers, and served as supervisor for Garfield Township.

Survivors include his special friend, Alice Verke, Hatton, ND; children: Ronda (Rich) Menze, Arizona, and their children: Sasha (Dennis) Loock and Paige Menze; Denise Vaagene, Portand, ND; Brad (Sara) Vaagene, Hatton, ND and their children: Emily, Lucas, Logan; Alice’s children: Peter (Jennifer) Verke and their children: Travis Vigen and Zahra (Jason) Hanson; Leah Verke and her daughter, Karissa (Spencer) Huus; great-grandchildren: Tyler and William Loock; Keegen and Blakely Hanson; Harper and Madelynn Huus; siblings: Rita (Bob) Bristlen, Paul (Noreen) Vaagene, Gary (Debbra) Vaagene; sisters-in-law, Joy Vaagene and Marcia Wilson; brother-in-law, Alvin Amundson.

Preceding him in death were his parents, sister, Janice Amundson and brothers, Gene Vaagene and Larry Vaagene.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Wounded Warrior Project and Hatton Prairie Village.