Michael Dale Skogen “Skogs”

Michael Dale Skogen “Skogs”, 51, Moorhead, MN, died on Thursday, May 14, 2015, in Sanford Health, Fargo, ND.
Michael Dale Skogen was born June 14th, 1963 in Fort Leavenworth, KS, to Bob and Kathy Skogen. After his father returned from serving in Viet Nam when Mike was a year old the family moved to Fairibault, MN, and then later to Two Harbors MN. Mike’s full-bore approach to life was evident in his love for hockey and all outdoor activities. Mike graduated in 1981 from Two Harbors High School. Mike enrolled at MSU in Moorhead, MN where he enjoyed meeting friends, playing soccer, and going to parties.
Mike married Alana Twedt in 1988 and they were together for about eight years. During that time Mike began a career at Nash Finch where he met many life-long friends. In 1995 Mike met Patty Cody at a friend’s party. It was not an obvious match. Mike was a smoker, a biker, and a loud-music lover. Mike liked the Beastie Boys, while Patty was more of a Lawrence Welk fan. None of that mattered. When she saw his house, she saw an interesting old house with great bones, not the overgrown lawn and the living room full of bike parts. Mike mocked Patty’s love of Martha Stewart, but it was obvious that he adored her attempts to make everything “cozy”. When Patty looked at Mike she didn’t see the tattoo and pierced ear, but rather the big, kind heart that beat just under his bad-boy exterior. Mike crashed his bike doing a mid-night stunt shortly before their wedding day. He lost his front teeth and needed a metal plate put in his head. Some people saw red flags. It was another example of the term his friends used about his habit of breaking things; he “skogified” his bike and his head! Again, Patty just saw the bold, vulnerable spirit that was the hallmark of Mike’s life.
In 2001 Mike and Patty welcomed their daughter Ingrid into their life. Mike and Patty immediately introduced “Baby Stink” Ingrid to their love of the outdoors through biking, camping and fishing. In 2004 Mike received his diagnosis of MS. Mike’s full bore attitude helped him get through the many difficulties of his disease with grace and humor. He said “hey, it’s not terminal!” It was a sad day when he had to sell his beloved Triumph motorcycle, but Mike found another outlet for recreation through his boat. Mike, Patty and Ingrid moved to a house on the river in South Moorhead with a beautiful view where Mike was able to maintain his relationship with nature. He loved seeing all the birds, turkeys, deer and other wildlife meander through the backyard.
During the last few years Mike’s life became more limited. He had to leave his job at Kreiser Medical Supply. Mike ordered groceries, took care of bills, and maintained communications through his computer. Although getting out and about became more difficult, Mike still loved to socialize in his home. A recent highlight was his 50th birthday party where many family and friends came dressed in “Mad Men” style to help him celebrate.
Mike did a lot of research about the drug “Lemtrada”. He hoped it might help him regain his strength and mobility. In 2015 it got approved in the U.S. and Mike was the first person his doctor had scheduled for a treatment. Mike was in the midst of receiving the Lemtrada treatments for MS when he was diagnosed with a rupture in his duodenum. While that was an apparently unrelated issue, there were many other possible risks associated with the treatment. Mike was fully aware of the risks, but he was very optimistic about giving it a try. Full bore.
Mike leaves behind his wife , Patty Cody and daughter, Ingrid Skogen, Moorhead, MN; his parents, Bob and Kathy Skogen , Two Harbors, MN and St. Paul, MN; two sisters, Carolyn Johnson, Brad, Proctor, MN; and Ellen Skogen, Bemidji, MN; as well as nine nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be given to the M.S. Foundation.
Visitation: Monday, May 18, 2015, from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M., in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN, as well as for one hour before the funeral at the church.
Funeral: Tuesday, May 19, 2015, at 10:00 A.M. in the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Moorhead, MN.
Interment: Prairie Home Cemetery, Moorhead, MN.