Margaret Esther Furuseth

Margaret (nee Haas) Furuseth, age 99, passed away on Friday, August 11, 2023, at Divine Rehabilitation & Nursing in Fennimore on the same day that her beloved husband Dean passed away 23 years ago. She was born in a farmhouse in Earlville, Iowa on April 15, 1924; the daughter of Edward F. and Iva V. (Wendling) Haas. She was the middle child of 9 children and did all of her schooling in a country school. She married Dean H. Furuseth on August 31, 1943, in Marion, Iowa. After she and Dean had their first child DiAnn and when she was expecting her second, Dean was drafted and went to Germany to fight in World War II. Margaret lived with her mother and her sister Edith during this time.  While Dean was at war, their second child Karen was born.  Dean and Margaret had 6 children that they raised on a farm near Central City, Iowa until 1961 when they moved to Lancaster, Wisconsin to farm there.  Margaret lived on that farm for the next 60 years. While on that farm, Margaret became Dean’s partner in Furuseth Manufacturing making post hole diggers and later as over the road truckers.

Margaret was a wonderful cook and an amazing seamstress.  She often sewed clothes for the children, many times without a pattern. She taught all of her daughters how to sew and cook as well, while her sons were hard at work on the farm. She loved to crochet and made every new baby in the family a sweater, hat and blanket.  Those, along with the crochet dolls she made all the little girls in the family, are still treasured to this day.

One of Margaret’s greatest loves was the American Legion.  She was a member of Mt Hope Unit 229 for 50 years.  During that time, she served in many offices including 10 years as President. She also served as Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and Chaplain.  At the county level, she served as President (two terms) and the District Second Vice-President, First Vice-President, and Historian.  For many years, she and her fellow auxiliary members sent cards, baked goods and lap quilts to our veterans. Every year, Margaret crocheted a patriotic doll to be added to the American Legion raffle at the chapters annual fund raiser.

She is survived by all 6 of her children. DiAnn Husemann, Karen (Chuck) Lafler, Mary (Mike) Bernardin, Virginia Haumschild, Dana (Corie) Furuseth and Dennis (Sherri) Furuseth. She is survived by 15 grandchildren: Erica (James) Leary, Shelly Laufenberg, Eric Husemann, Sherri (Mike) Duncan, Todd (Cindy) Lafler, Penny Pasker, Brett (Denece) Lafler, Michelle (Mike) Belvins, Marcy (Dan) Brown, Kris (Dave) Haumschild- Johnson, Steve (Malia) Haumschild, Hope Everson, Dawn Kretschman, Deena (Ron) Tracy, Brittney (Sam) Stelpflug; and 33 great grandchildren and 19 great great grandchildren.

Margaret was preceded in death her husband of 57 years, Dean; her parents, Ed and Iva Haas; 2 grandchildren, Angela Furuseth and Bradley Furuseth; 2 great grandsons, Cameron and Aaron Kretchman; son-in-law, Ron Haumschild; 4 sisters: Erma Coleson, Edith Crippen, Helen Kirby, and Edna McDonald; and 4 brothers: Eugene, Alvin, Donald, and Leonard Haas. She is also proceeded in death by brothers in-law and sisters in-law: Owen and Lorraine Furuseth, Donnie and Nancy Furuseth, and Leslie and Pat Furuseth.