Emily Louise Houglum

Emily Louise (Mikkelson) Houglum, 104, of Moorhead, MN, passed away on Sunday, February 5, 2023, at Eventide on 8^th, Moorhead, MN.

Emily was born on February 24, 1918, to Martin L. Mikkelson and Bertha Erickson at the family home in Eglon Township, Clay County, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at Solem Church and attended the rural school through the 8^th grade. Emily graduated from Hawley High School in 1937. She completed a bookkeeping course at Interstate Business College in Fargo, ND. She worked at the Clay County Extension Office at the Moorhead Water and Light Department and at Murphy Finance Company in Moorhead, MN.

Emily married Andre “Andy” Houglum of Moorhead, MN, on April 23, 1949, at Solem Church. She was active in a business women’s sorority, a bowling team, sewing club, and bridge club. She and Andy delivered Meals on Wheels for 13 years. They made their home in Moorhead, MN, and she joined Andy’s home church, Trinity Lutheran. They built their home in South Moorhead doing most of the finishing work and decorating themselves. Emily was a seamstress and loved doing this for many friends and family. She also enjoyed all types of flower gardening. After moving into their new home, they transferred to Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. She did volunteer work at Eventide Lutheran Home and Good Shepherd where she was active in many departments including wedding hostess for 16 years.

When Emily retired, they welcomed her mother into their home for 5 years. They were also able to do some travelling together and with friends. They decided to sell their home and move into Linden Tree Circle at Eventide in Moorhead on April 26, 2013. Here they continued to enjoy the love, support, and presence of their extended families.

Emily is survived by her nephews, Frank (Judi) Hollands, Chuck Thorne, John (Audrey) Elton, Mike (Pat) Elton, Jerome Mikkelson, and Lyle Mikkelson; nieces, Doroles (Merrill) Johnson, Debra (Joel) Haugen, Sandra Thorne, Ardelle (Curt) Berg, Kathy (Larry) Burnside, Jean (Rodney) Ulven, Barbara (Dallas) Groshans, and Jenny (Ken) Schumann; and many other loving relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Andy; sister, Myrtle; brothers, Ludvig, Milton, Lloyd, and Lawrence; and nephew, Don Rusness.

Visitation will be from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M., followed by the memorial service on what would have been her 105^th birthday, at 2:00 P.M., Friday, February 24, 2023, at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Moorhead, MN. A livestream of the service will be available on her webpage at www.wrightfuneral.com where a guestbook and video tribute may also be found. Final resting place will be at Riverside Cemetery, Moorhead, MN, at a later date.