Marlene Hagerott

Doris “Marlene” Hagerott, 85, died Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at a local hospital.

Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Center with Pastor Dennis Ristvedt officiating. Burial will follow at the Center Community Cemetery.  On Monday, September 2, 2019 visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Center.

Marlene was born on February 2, 1934, at the family farm home in Oliver County to Henry and Carolena “Lena” Maurer Hagerott. She was the youngest of seven children. Siblings Helen (Ferdie) Fandrich, (Joe) Bosch; Louise (Lawrence) Pfliger; Erna (Steve) Martin; Ludwig; Louis; and Raymond rounded out the family; they all preceded her in death as did her brothers-in-law. Elroy Erdman also lived with the Hagerott family; he also preceded her in death. Marlene lived all of her life in North Dakota in the farm house built in 1911.

Marlene was raised and educated in the Center area; she attended grade school at the Lewis School and graduated from Center High School (CHS) in 1954 as Valedictorian of her class. She sang in the school choir and was a guard on the 1954 CHS basketball team that played in the state tournament that year. She attended summer school at Dickinson State Teachers College; for the following two years, Marlene taught all eight grades at the Mosbrucker School, south of the Hagerott farm.

Marlene decided she liked farm life better than teaching, so she became a full-fledged partner in the farming operation. She had a green thumb and was a natural with flowers; she has been growing African Violets for over 50 years; many people are the recipients of her beautiful violets. She loved the outdoors and nature; she liked to get her hands in the dirt. She constantly stimulated her mind with crossword puzzles, SUDOKU, Jeopardy, and card games. Recently she learned a little about the movie business when she became a producer for her great niece Chantelle’s movie, “The Sixth Friend”.

In addition to helping on the farm, Marlene worked at the Law Office in Center; she also worked as a substitute teller at the Security State Bank, Center Station. Marlene accompanied her sister, Helen, as a crop adjustor throughout North Dakota. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, the Oliver County Historical Society and the Golden Age Club in Center.

Marlene was a bowler for many years, up to three nights a week in the Bismarck/Mandan/Beulah area. She was inducted into the North Dakota State Bowlers Hall of Fame for Superior Performance; the Hall of Fame is located in Jamestown, ND. Marlene competed in several Women’s National Bowling Tournaments. Other pastimes include bunco, bridge, and pinochle. Marlene and some of the family members took a memorable trip to Hawaii in the 70’s; she remembered it fondly. Marlene enjoyed her trips to the casino and visiting with all the friends and acquaintences she met there; last year she won a pontoon—that was a surprise. Marlene was one of the Honorary Old Settlers’ at the Oliver County Old Settlers’ Days in June, 2019.

In February, 2000, Marlene was diagnosed with cancer; the cancer was successfully removed. She had no health problems until July, 2014 when she underwent surgery for a bowel obstruction. Complications occurred and she ended up staying a month in Sanford ICU, three months at Vibra Hospital, and almost five months at St. Gabriel’s.  She had a long, tough recovery. A huge help for her recovery came about because of a shared childhood story with Pastor Dennis. Marlene was telling him how she liked it when her mother went to Bismarck because “Ma” would bring her a color book; that was a treat. Pastor left and soon he was back with an adult coloring book and colored pencils. Marlene was thrilled; she was still coloring at the time of her death; she had colored at least 20 books. Although she had COPD and used oxygen occasionally, she was doing pretty well health-wise although she was easily fatigued. She suffered a cardiac arrest on August 22 and taken via ambulance to a local hospital where she later died.

Besides her parents, siblings and their spouses, and Elroy, others preceding her in death include nephews: Gary Martin, Steven Martin; nephews-in-law: Raymond Kautzman, Dennis Poffenberger, Howard Schulte; great niece, Leslie Poffenberger.

Survivors include Nieces: Jean Pfliger Kautzman, Judith Pfliger Poffenberger (Stuart) Libby, Arlyce Pfliger Schulte, Claudia Pfliger (Lyle) Albers, Sheryl Pfliger, Charlene Pfliger Sampson; Sheila Martin (Jim) Wells, Deborah Martin; Niece-in-law: Meri Martin; Nephews: Dennis (Jean) Martin, Tom Pfliger (Sherrie Vissotski); Great Nieces: Julie Poffenberger, Gwen Pfliger Solum (Rylan and Paxton), Chantelle Albers, Kary Martin, Stephanie (Andy) Maier (S.J. and Paul), Carolene (Nathan) Severson, Martinique Davis (Craig) Prohaska (Elisabeth Elodie and Lena Emmeline); Great Nephews: David (Stacey) Poffenberger (Chloe and Chanson), Steven (Stacey) Sampson (Gavin and Austin), Michael (Tanya) Sampson (Logan, Noah, Alexander, Oliver), Christopher Sampson (Nicole Posey), Matthew (Joelle) Sampson, Jonathan (Heidi) Albers (Marin, Mia, and Bennett), Morgan Wells, Tom (Annie) Martin (Samantha and John Dennis), Brian Martin (Breanna and Taylor), Hunter (Jessica) Martin (Oliver);  Cousins: Carole Reinig, Laura (Ingram) Opp, Sharon (Tom) Leingang, Ruby (Sam) Schafer; and “adopted” nieces: Mary Ann Mittleider and Sonja Kautzman.