Robert Dale Haugen

Robert Dale Haugen, 76, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2026, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

When his family first learned of his diagnosis, their greatest fear was that he would forget who they were. Instead, they were the fortunate ones—Robert knew and recognized his family until the very end.

Born on November 8, 1949, in Parshall, North Dakota, to Einar and Priscilla Haugen, Robert was raised alongside his six siblings: Joe, Marge, Dave, Linda, Phyllis, and Charlie. Though life eventually spread the siblings across the country, they remained closely connected through frequent phone calls and gatherings filled with laughter, playful teasing, and the tradition of measuring heights to see who was tallest. The love among them was strong, and their time together never seemed to last long enough.

On May 24, 1980, Robert married the love of his life, Karen Mae (Tveit) Haugen. Together they built a life centered on family and raised three children: Amanda, Danielle, and Ryley. Amanda married Matt Henry and they have two children, Addison and Camden. Danielle married Logan Kling and they have two children, Brady and Anna. Their son Ryley has proudly served in the military since graduating from high school and continues to serve our country.

Robert left school after eighth grade but later moved to the Fargo-Moorhead area where he earned his GED through a vocational school program. He began a career as a custodian at the Post Office, where he worked for over 20 years, later worked at MeritCare, and finished his career with Moorhead Public Schools, retiring in 2017.

Known for being terrible with names, Robert somehow managed to go by many himself—Bob, Bobby, Bobby Dale, Bobberino, Roberto, Mr. Haugen, Old Man, and even Mufasa thanks to the family’s love of The Lion King. But his favorite name of all was Bumpa. Being a grandfather was his greatest joy. He loved his grandchildren more than anything and was still asking about them just days before he passed. He treasured sleepovers, walks to the park, trips to Dairy Queen, visits to the zoo, and teaching them how to whittle wood. No matter what activities or sports they pursued, his consistent message was to take school seriously, get an education, and go to college so they would have more opportunities in life.

Robert found happiness in the simple things. He loved dogs and cats, being outdoors in every season, clearing snow all the way down to the skids, mowing the lawn, repeating bird calls back to the birds, coloring, watching old westerns, listening to music, reminiscing about past travels, and occasionally dancing. Above all, he was known for his kindness, positivity, and willingness to help anyone. When asked how he was doing—even on his hardest days—his answer was always the same: “Oh, not too bad.”

While the family’s hearts are heavy and they will miss him deeply, they find comfort knowing he is now at peace.