Demerise Haugen, 90, died on Saturday, July 03, 2010 at Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls, MN.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at St. Bernards Catholic Church, Thief River Falls, MN with Father Rick Lambert presiding. Burial will follow at St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery, Terrebonne, MN.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service and 7:15 PM Eagles Auxiliary Service on Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held from 9:30 AM until 10:30 AM on Wednesday at the church.

Demerise Ida Kelly was born September 27, 1919, the daughter of Alexander and Lena (Bedard) Kelly, on the family farm, Gentilly, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Peters Church, Gentilly. She attended country school at Gentilly and worked on the farm.

On November 8, 1937, Demerise was united in marriage to Leonard Casavan in Gentilly. To this union four children were born: Darlene, Shirley, Darrell and Marilyn. The family made their home on the Casavan family farm near Dorothy, MN in 1941. After the birth of their daughter, Darlene, the family moved to Terrebonne, where they purchased a farm. They farmed small grain and milked dairy cows for over 25 years. They worked very hard on the farm and operated a grade A dairy. In 1960, they moved into Red Lake Falls, MN.

She worked as a charge nurse at Hillcrest Nursing Home, Red Lake Falls for over 15 years and in the mid 70s, Demerise moved to Thief River Falls to be closer to her kids. While in Thief River Falls, she worked at Northwestern Hospital as a nurses aide.

Demerise was a member of St. Anthony Church, Terrebonne and currently a member of St. Bernards Church, Thief River Falls, MN. She was a long time member of the Eagles Auxiliary; and enjoyed gardening and canning. They had 3 big gardens. Demerise had a very green thumb, and truly enjoyed life on the farm. She was a very good cook.

She is survived by 2 children, Darlene Hanson, Thief River Falls, MN and Shirley Thompson, Watertown, SD; 9 grandchildren, Keith (Tanya) Leiran, Geralyn (Mark) Lunski, Kevin (Barbara) Leiran, Alan (Kimberly) Procknick, Earl (Janet) Procknick, Angela (Jeff) Holgate, Brenda (Ricky) Peterson, Scott Casavan and Jacqueline Smith; 16 great grandchildren, Savanah, Tristan, Alexa, Dante, John, Jessica, Karisa, Kyler, Jason, Katie, Bonnie, Linda, Haleigh, Shanielle, Walker and Ryan; sister-in-law, Millie Kelly, St. Paul, MN; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Demerise was preceded in death by parents; son Darrell; daughter, Marilyn; brothers, Lester and Harold; sisters, Della and Bernice.