Robert Dale Haugen, 76, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2026, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

When our family first learned of his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, our greatest fear was that he would forget who we were. Instead, we were the fortunate ones—Robert knew and recognized his family until the very end.

Robert was born November 8, 1949, in Parshall, North Dakota, to Einar and Priscilla Haugen. He was raised alongside his six siblings: Joe (deceased), Marge, Dave, Linda, Phyllis (deceased), and Charlie (deceased). Though life eventually spread the siblings across the country, they remained closely connected. Phone calls were frequent, and when family gatherings happened, they were filled with laughter, playful teasing, and the tradition of measuring heights to determine once again who was the tallest. The love among them was strong, and the gatherings never seemed to last long enough.

On May 24, 1980, Robert married the love of his life, Karen Mae (Tveit) Haugen. Together they built a life centered on family and raised three children: Amanda, Danielle, and Ryley.

Amanda married Matt Henry and they have two children, Addison and Camden. Danielle married Logan Kling and they have two children, Brady and Anna. Their son Ryley has proudly served in the military since graduating from high school and continues to serve our country.

Robert left school after eighth grade but later moved to the Fargo-Moorhead area where he earned his GED through a vocational school program. Through that program he began a career as a custodian at the Post Office, where he worked for over 20 years. He later worked at MeritCare before finishing his career with Moorhead Public Schools, retiring in 2017.

While Robert was known for being terrible with names, he somehow managed to go by many himself—Bob, Bobby, Bobby Dale, Bobberino, Roberto, Mr. Haugen, Old Man, and even Mufasa thanks to the family’s love of The Lion King. But his favorite name of all was Bumpa.

Being a grandfather was his greatest joy. He loved his grandchildren more than anything in the world and was still asking about them just days before he passed. Whether it was sleepovers, walks to the park, trips to Dairy Queen (sometimes daily), visits to the zoo, or teaching them how to whittle wood, he treasured every moment with them. No matter what activities or sports they were involved in, his biggest message to them was always the same: take school seriously, get your education, and go to college so you have more opportunities in life.

Robert found happiness in the simple things. He loved dogs and cats, being outdoors in every season, clearing snow all the way down to the skids, mowing the lawn, repeating bird calls back to the birds, coloring, watching old westerns, listening to music, reminiscing about past travels, and occasionally dancing.

Above all, Robert was known for his kindness, positivity, and willingness to help anyone. When asked how he was doing—even on his hardest days—his answer was always the same: “Oh, not too bad.”

While our hearts are heavy and we will miss him deeply, we find comfort knowing he is now at peace.

Visitation will be Friday, March 20, 2026, from 12:00 - 1:00 PM, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 1:00 PM, in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.