Funeral Services for Hazel Wangen, of Albert Lea, will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, October 10, 2011, at Oakland Lutheran Church, rural Albert Lea. Pastor Bob Berthold will officiate. Interment will be in Oakland Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 on Sunday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and continues one hour before the service at the church. Hazel died on October 6, 2011 at Good Samaritan Center, Albert Lea. She was 85 years old.
Hazel was born December 30, 1925, in Emmons, MN, the daughter of Carl and Mary (Flaten) Ringstad. She was baptized and confirmed at the Emmons Lutheran Church, and attended Emmons Public School. On May 19th, 1946, she married Robert Wangen at the Oakland Lutheran Church. They lived many years on the old farm place near Hayward. She enjoyed her many pets on the farm. She loved to cook and bake, especially "Long Johns" and lefsa. She was an active member of the Oakland Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday School and was a member of the Altar Guild and the W.E.L.C.A. Hazel was also a member of the Ladies V.F.W. Auxiliary. She was employed at the American Gas Co, Conner's Rest Home, and private home care. Mrs. Wangen is survived by 4 children: Ronald Wangen and wife Jeanne of Oakland, MN, LeAnn Knox of Albert Lea, Elwood "Woody" Wangen and fiancé Julie of Albert Lea, Howard Wangen and his wife Leanne of Chippewa Falls, WI; grandchildren: Scott A. Wangen and wife Sue of Oakland, MN, Chad Wangen and wife Tisha of London, MN, Jeremy Wangen and wife Abby of Hayward, MN, Brett Knox and wife Joanna of Brooklyn Park, MN, Scott E. Wangen of Madison Lake, MN, Cody Wangen of Albert Lea, Shannon Wangen and wife Laura of Rapid City, SD , Shelly Wangen of Blumer, WI, Jeremy Bergstrom and wife Kelly of Elkhart, IA, John Bergstrom and wife Annesa of Carlisle, IA, and 18 great grandchildren; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Clare Knutson of Albert Lea, Elnora Krueger of Missouri, Omer (Geri) Wangen of Austin, MN, Marjorie Wangen of Hayward, MN, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert in 1980, infant son David in 1962, parents Carl and Mary Ringstad, sisters, Emma Carter, Alice Gunderson, Mavis Knutson and Merna in infancy, brothers Conrad and Orville Ringstad. Blessed be her Memory!