Mary C. Hagen, 94, of Beulah, formerly of Columbus, passed away December 23, 2017 at The Knife River Care Center, Beulah. Funeral services to be held at 1:00 PM CST, December 26, 2017, in Columbus, ND at Trinity Lutheran Church.  Burial to follow at the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Columbus.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the church.

Mary was born September 29, 1923 in Moorehead, Minnesota.  She was raised on the family farm in Portal Township with her mother and father, Dominicka (Minnie) and Robert Campbell, and her siblings Dennis, Lois, Rita, Regina and half siblings Alice and Burke.  She attended grade school at the Vale Special School No. 5 and was a graduate of Lignite High School in 1940.  Mary was a member of the Lignite Sunshine Girls 4-H Club, and the Rival Girls 4-H Club as a youth.  She was also a member of the Rival Homemakers Club.

Mary was united in marriage to Melvin O. Hagen in Plentywood, Montana in 1941. The couple resided in various farm homes, the Truax Traer Mine Camp, and finally they settled into their own home in Columbus.  They had one child, Jean (Wally) Koppelsloen.

Mary was a strong willed, independent woman who knew her own mind, lived her life on her own terms, and believed in honest hard work.  While Melvin was working, Mary too found work to help out with the family’s needs.  She held various jobs around the community including Gambles, Bardusen’s Clothing Store, and Johnson’s Café. 

After her daughter married, Mary found new joy in helping out with her grandchildren, Kurt and Jeffrey Koppelsloen.  Those boys were her whole world.  They brought great joy into her life and she spent many weekends with them staying at her house.  She watched them grow and followed their lives closely, calling them often to keep up with what they were doing.  They both married, and Mary got to be a great grandmother:  first, to Kyle and Amber, whom she loved to babysit for and spend time with; then came Disa, Dani, Koby and the twins, Jack and Jenna.  Mary loved them all.  She followed everything the “little kids” did.  Mary saved every newspaper that had any mention of her grandchildren or great grandchildren.  She was very proud, and would often call and let them know that she had seen them in the paper.

Mary was always the first to arrive at family events, whether it was a birthday party or holiday gathering, with her orange jello and special treats.  She made sure that you were aware that she wanted to spend time with her family and she never wanted to miss out on anything.  

Mary enjoyed reading the paper, magazines, and local history books.  She often would call and share what she learned.  Sometimes she would even cut an article out of the paper and send it to one of the family who she felt needed the information.  Mary also enjoyed travelling around the rural areas of her hometown, reminiscing about times gone by.  She would show anyone who asked where the old school houses once stood, where various homesteads used to be, and share countless tales of family visits and comparisons on how life has changed from back in her day.

In 2011, Mary moved from Columbus.  She spent a short time in Minot at the Wellington, and then found herself a home at The Knife River Care Center in Beulah.  Mary was very happy to be in Beulah so that she could be close to Jeff, his wife, Julie and their children Jack and Jenna.  She loved that she got to spend time with them on a regular basis.

Mary will be greatly missed.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Dominicka and Robert Campbell; her husband, Melvin; sister, Regina; half-siblings, Alice and Burke; and son-in-law Wallace Koppelsloen.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Jean Koppelsloen (Les Mahin); grandsons, Kurt (Dawn) Koppelsloen and Jeffrey (Julie) Koppelsloen; great-grandchildren, Disa, Dani, Koby, and Jack and Jenna Koppelsloen; step great-grandchildren Kyle and Amber Jenkins; siblings, Dennis Campbell, Lois Hawbaker, Rita Lucy; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen.

 Service Information