BLUE EARTH — Melvin A. Hauge, age 94, of Blue Earth and formerly of Elmore, passed on Sept. 1, 2019, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center in Blue Earth.

Funeral service will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Shiloh Lutheran Church in Elmore with Rev. Bob Roettger officiating. Internment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Blue Earth. Visitation will also be 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday at Shiloh Lutheran Church.

Memorials may be given to Shiloh Lutheran Church.

Melvin A. Hauge was born to Malvin and Ella Hauge May 2, 1925, in Lacy, Miner County, South Dakota. He was the sixth child born of 12 to Malvin and Ella. He grew up on a family farm located five miles west of Lake Norden, South Dakota. He attended country school in Hamlin County through the sixth grade and graduated high school from Lake Norden. Following two and one-half years, October 1943 – February 1946, in the Marines, he enrolled and graduated from Huron College in Huron, South Dakota, with a teaching degree. It was here that he met the love of his life, Virginia Knudtson, and they were married on Nov. 22, 1950.

He began his teaching career in Florence, South Dakota, teaching junior high classes all subjects in 1950 through 1954. Next was teaching history and science in Clear Lake, South Dakota, from 1954 through 1961. In 1961, a career in school administration was begun in Hudson, South Dakota, through 1964. A move to Garretson, South Dakota, was made in 1964 for one year. In 1965, he assumed the school superintendent position in Askov, Minnesota, which he held until 1967. He then assumed the school superintendent position in Elmore, Minnesota, which he held until 1990, at which time he retired for the first time. Later in 1990, he assumed the school superintendent position in Browns Valley, Minnesota, which he held through 1992. In 1992, he became an elementary principal for the Graceville School District in Beardsley Valley, Minnesota, which he held until 1998. In 1998, he retired for the second time. He coached many athletic teams and individuals, primarily track and basketball, during his years in education. He was especially proud of his basketball teams in Clear Lake and track teams in Hudson and Elmore.

Very important to Melvin was his family and especially the grandchildren and great-grandchildren; the Hauge and Knudtson family reunions; and the Hauge Heritage farm near Lake Norden, South Dakota.

Melvin was very proud of his military service as a Marine in World War II. He initially enlisted in the Marines to search for his brother Bob, who was listed as missing in the Guadalcanal area. He was part of the military forces taking the islands of Okinawa, Pavuvu, Peleliu and Ryukyu in the southeast Asian seas. He was a longtime member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War.

Melvin is survived by six sons and one daughter: Bob (Linda Frette) of Lake Crystal, Minnesota; M. John (Laurie Dinsmore) of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Kathy (Michael Bauer) of Gilbert, Arizona; Tom (Deb Fischer) of Madisonville, Tennessee; Phil (Rita Asmus) of New Ulm, Minnesota; Dan (Cheryl Foote) of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; David (Cesar Jamie) of Anaheim, California; 16 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy, Mabel and Clara; brother, Richard; and many nieces and nephews, family and friends.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Virginia of 61 years on Feb. 24, 2012; six brothers and one sister; two brothers who died as babies and brother Bob, who was killed in World War II; several brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws; several nephews; other family and friends.

The family would like to thank the staff of St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center, Dr. Johnson and Hospice for their loving care of Melvin.

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