Hougen, O. Paul and Helen V. (Peterson)

(Paul Hougen)

O. Paul and Helen Hougen

Paul was born to Virgil and Leona Hougen in Minneapolis, MN the oldest of 5 children. His brothers and sisters are: Roy E; Ruth M (Hermann); M. James and Curtis L.

Paul attended school in New Effington, SD (1 st Grade) and then a one-room country school north of Yankton, SD. He studied one year at Augustana Academy, Canton, SD and graduated from Kenyon High, Kenyon, MN.

Paul graduated from Waldorf College, Forest City, IA, and attended St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN. He graduated from Luther College, Decorah, IA in 1953. He then went on to Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN where he received his Masters of Divinity Degree on 23 Jun 1957 and was ordained into the Holy Ministry. The Service of Ordination took place at Hauge Lutheran Church, rural Decorah.

Further studies took Paul to Chicago Lutheran Seminary; Advanced Pastoral studies Bloomfield Hills, Ml; Clinical Pastoral Education etc, etc.

While Paul was a student at Luther, his father Virgil Hougen, was Pastor of St. John and Hauge Lutheran Churches rural Decorah. During this time Paul met Helen V Peterson. They were married 8 Aug 1954 at Hauge Lutheran Church. They have 8 children including one adopted: David K; Paul Jay; Kristi R. (Niebuhr); Jonathan L; Faith L. (Andreassen); Luther; Joy R. (Olson); and Gloria R. (Ormord).

David is a graduate of Waldorf College, Forest City and married Julie Johnson Wooldrik 8 Apr 1984. They have 5 children: Michelle, Katie, Kenny, John Paul and Daniel. They live in Newark, IL.

Paul Jav is a graduate of Waldorf College and is employed by Carlson Const, of Decorah and lives in Waterloo. He married Teresa Shepherd on 28 Dec 1995 at Great Lakes Naval Base, IL. He died 11 Mar 1996.

Kristi is a graduate of Waldorf College and Texas Lutheran College. She married Bruce Niebuhr of Fairbank.

They have 3 children: twins Brandon and Brianna and Amanda. They live at Fairbank, IA.

Jonathan is a graduate of Waldorf College and attended Luther. He graduated from Des Moines Area Community College. He also took classes from the University of Wl, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA, and UNI. Jonathan was Administrator of the Aase Haugen Homes, Inc. from 1991-1994. He married Teresa Havenstrite Pape. They have 2 children: Kalista and Aleshia.

Faith attended Wartburg College, Waverly. She married Brett Andreassen. They have 3 children: Alicia, Derek and Spenser. They live at Windsor Heights, Des Moines.

Luther attended Wartburg College and UNI. He married. Tamara Gorby of Waterloo. They have 2 children: Jamie and Cody. They live in Denver, IA.

Joy attended Wartburg College and graduated from Hawkeye Tech. She married James Olson. They have 2 children: Mackenzie and Mariah. They live in Cottage Grove, MN.

Gloria attended Waldorf College, UNI and is a graduate of Grandview College, Des Moines. She married Brian Ormord of Waterloo. They have 2 children: Kirsten and Zachary.

Chad Pliester. a foster son, graduated from North Winneshiek High School.

Paul and Helen also made a home for some 14 foster children most of whom were teenage boys.

While on internship Paul worked under Pastor Ernest Sihler in the Mission with the Native Americans, namely the Winnebago, Oneida and Mennominee Indian Tribes. This Mission was based at Wittenberg, Wl. Paul served Congregations in Amherst and Nelsonville, Wl 1957-1962; Newark and Norway, IL 1962-1972; Hills, MN and aiso served as Chaplain at Tuff Memorial Home at Hills 1972-1978; and Denver IA 1978-1990.

Presently he is the Pastor/Chaplain of the Aase Haugen Homes, Inc. in Decorah.

Helen was the youngest child of John E. Peterson and Lenora Amanda (Danielson). She was born  on the home farm in Canoe Twp., Winneshiek, Co. Helen was baptized and confirmed in the Hauge Lutheran Church rural Decorah by the Reverend Carl Losen.

She attended a one-room school at Canoe #9 and Decorah High School graduating in 1951. While in high school she was part of the School and Business Retail Selling Program and worked as bookkeeper at Peterson Sales and Service.

When Helen met and married Paul the same ARCH that was used for the wedding of her parents was used in front of the church Hauge for her wedding.

To supplement the Pastor’s income, Helen baked and sold lefse for several years. This was done after the children were tucked in for the night and you’d find her working until the wee hours of the morning. Later she ran a “Day Care Service" with children arriving as early as 6 o'clock in the morning and staying until 6 o’clock in the evening.

Helen also participated in Parish and Congregational life which included hosting various events emphasizing family togetherness. Helen and Paul now live at Rustic Acres,