Sig Hagen

Sigvald Hagen, son of Tollef and Bertha (Gunderson) Hagen, was born November 25, 1912 in Stevens Township in Stevens County, Minnesota, where he grew up and attended country school. Following his schooling, Sig helped his dad on the family farm until 1934, when he went into the Civilian Conservation Corps, where he went to work in International Falls, planting trees and clearing forests. Sig then went to Seattle, where he spent six months working for a doctor as a gardener. He then moved back to the area and continued to help his father farm until 1939 when he was united in marriage to Christine Pillen. The couple raised four children: Dean, Dona, Richard and Elizabeth. Following their marriage, the couple lived in Dundee, MN, where Sig tended bar for his father-in-law for six months. The couple then moved to the Twin Cities, where he worked as a mechanic for Twin Cities Rapid Transit. In 1941, Sig went to Whitehorse, Canada, in the Yukon Territory, where he spent nine months working on the Alaskan Highway. He serviced trucks, caterpillars and other heavy equipment and later became a foreman. In 1942, he returned to St. Paul, where he went to work for the A.O. Schmidt Company, which was making propellers for fighter planes. In 1944, Sig moved his family to Appleton, where he ran a gas station and later a bar and grill in Louisburg. In 1951, they moved back to Stevens County to run the Pillen farm and later purchase it and also purchased the Hagen family farm in Stevens Township. Sig continued to farm, milk cows, raise pigs and fed out cattle until 1975, when he retired. He moved to Morris in 1995, where he has continued to live since that time.





Sig was a member of Assumption Catholic Church in Morris, the Alberta Wildlife, the Alberta Area Improvement Corporation and the Morris Eagles. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, trapping and watching the Minnesota Twins. He was always very concerned about the stewardship of the land. Sig especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.





Sig died on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 at the Courage Cottage in Morris, having lived to reach the age of 94 years.





He is survived by: two sons: Dean (Ginger) Hagen of Alberta and Dick (Linda) Hagen of Morris; one daughter: Beth (Bruce) Anderson of Naples, FL; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and three sisters: Clara Buntje of Morris, Alice Danielson of Hallock and LaVine Scheuble of Mendota Heights. He was preceded in death by his wife; one daughter: Dona Stansbury; one grandson: Nicholas; his parents; one brother: Elmer Hagen and four sisters: Edna, Viola, Gunda and Sylvia.





Pallbearers for the service are Sig's grandsons: Travis Hagen, Troy Hagen, Rob Stansbury, Lance Hagen, Kenny Hagen and David Hagen. Honorary pallbearers are: Lloyd Hagen, Walter Riemers, Larry Pavick, Harvey Mathison, Jackie Holslin, Shelly Machart, Angie Anderson, Ashley Anderson and Nickie Pierotti. Josh Fischer will serve as pianist and song leader for the service. Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.