LuJean Gail Thomas

LuJean Gail Thomas, treasured wife, sister, aunt, and friend passed away on Monday, March 20, 2023, at Sanford Health Hospital, Fargo, ND from post-surgical complications.

LuJean lived a life full of everything she loved.  Her life was complete with a devoted husband, Arabian horses, and time with family and friends, fishing, cooking, cooking shows, gardening, and reading sci-fi fantasy novels.

Born on February 27, 1956, to Aubrey and Catherine (Swanson) Thomas in Fargo, ND. She grew up on a farm near Kragnes, MN, and graduated from Moorhead High School. She enlisted in the Air National Guard with the Happy Hooligans.  She received an associate degree in business from Dakota Business College and held a number of sales and marketing positions before finding her calling in real estate. In 2006 she married the love of her life, Greg Haakenson, in Key West, Florida, on the bow of their fishing Captain’s boat.

The saying, “You own a pet, and serve a horse” is a creed LuJean lived by.  She unequivocally served and loved her horses, considering them to be her kids. The horses she served included Rainy, Blazer, Stardust, Silver, Shadow (Greg’s), and Evette aka Li’l Bit.

Fortunately, Greg adapted quickly to her passion for horses.  They enjoyed riding, training and caring for their horses, and attended the International Arabian Horse Show in Scottsdale and vacationed in Key West annually.

LuJean is survived by her loving husband, Greg; siblings, Dodie (Bob) Halvorsen, Bruce (Jane) Thomas, and Brian (Darcy) Thomas; mother-in-law, Martha Haakenson; sister-in-law, Julie (Mike) Brunsvold; brother-in-law, David (Paulette) Haakenson, Nichi Haakenson, and Tim (Eva) Haakenson: nieces and nephews, Thomas and Zoe (Mike), Nick and Lydia (Norman), and Laura (Paul) and Jason (Jessamy) Brandee and Kylee (Alex), Bree (Nathan) and Brady (Jessica) and Brett, Joseph and Jacob and Elizabeth; many great nieces and nephews and many other wonderful relatives and friends and of course, her horses. She is preceded in death by her parents, Aubrey and Catherine Thomas and father-in-law, Irving Haakenson.

Visitation will be from 2:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M., followed by the celebration of life at 3:00 P.M., Saturday, March 25, 2023, at Wright Funeral Home, 605 2nd Ave S, Moorhead, MN.

In lieu of flowers, make your contribution by planting a tree in memory of LuJean.  Please follow the link to Trees, Water & People https://treeswaterpeople.org (https://treeswaterpeople.org/) to make your donation.