Serena Haugen

  Serena Bernice Haugen went to be with her Lord on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015.
  Serena was born on June 6, 1922, at her family home on Van Dyk Road in Lynden to Joseph and Stella Elenbaas. After attending Greenwood School, she graduated from Lynden High School. Serena received her teaching certificate from Western Washington University. She married Robert (Bob) Haugen in 1944 while he was on a week’s leave from his Army basic training camp before going off to Europe in World War II. Serena taught in the Ferndale, Bellingham and Meridian school districts.
  After living in the same home all her life, in 1957 Serena and Bob started on a new adventure with Bob’s position in the National Park Service. At each park Serena continued to teach and provide her family with many memories. In Hawaii they walked barefoot along the beach and collected shells. At the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado they played in the snow. In Washington, D.C., they visited many historical battlefields. While at the Everglades National Park they learned to sail, swim, fish and waterski. In Montrose, Colorado, Serena enjoyed taking the family skiing and “jeeping” in the San Juan Mountains and deserts of Utah while looking for rocks and purple bottles. In Estes Park, Colorado, Serena became interested in photography and weaving.
  In 1979, Bob and Serena returned to Lynden where Serena continued as a substitute teacher for 10 years in the Nooksack Valley School District. She was actively involved with Hope Lutheran Church, the Friends of the Lynden Library and a number of weaving groups, including Gourmet Weavers.
  Serena will be remembered for getting things done that she thought needed doing. She was always willing to try something new and encouraged others to get out and enjoy life. Her family hopes to carry on her tradition of making homemade cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning.
  Serena’s husband Bob died in 2011.
  She is survived by her sons, Theo of Folsom, California, and Rolf and his wife Linda; her grandchildren Kelly (Travis), Stephanie (Jeremy), Kyle (Elizabeth) and Kenton; seven great-grandchildren of Lynden; and numerous nieces and nephews.
  A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015, at Greenwood Cemetery followed by an 11 a.m. memorial service in Hope Lutheran Church, 900 E. Grover St., Lynden.
  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Friends of the Lynden Library, 216 Fourth St., Lynden, WA 98264.
  You are invited to share your condolences and memories in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
  Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.