Ann Bernice Hagen passed away on Tuesday, January 12, at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota. Ann resided at Fair Meadow Nursing Home and Assisted Living in Fertile, Minnesota. She was 94.
Anna Bernice Colebank was the 4th child of 7 and eldest daughter born to Clara and John Colebank in Woodside township, Polk County, Minnesota. She attended District 8 School through 8th grade and graduated from Mentor High School in 1934. Earning an elementary teaching certificate at Thief River Falls, Ann taught rural school for 6 years in Polk and Norman counties. Ann furthered her education at Bemidji State Teachers College and served as county 4-H Club agent in Cass and Norman Counties for 3 years. In June of 1946 Ann married Melbourne Charles Hagen at Maple Lake Lutheran Church and moved to Adak, Alaska where they both worked for the Army Engineers. Ann and Mel celebrated 69 years of marriage in 2015. They resided in Alaska for over 50 years however maintained family ties by returning to Minnesota every other summer.
Ann's career with civil service totaled 29 years in Alaska; on the island of Adak with the office of civilian personnel; in Anchorage with the Bureau of Land Management; and briefly in Crookston, Minnesota for Selective Service/Social Security. Ann's retirement years were filled with volunteer work for the Anchorage Senior Activity Center, travel and active participation in the annual Alaska Run for Women and Heart Run. Ann traveled with family as far as St Petersburg, Russia, England, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Estonia, Finland and Denmark. Together she and Mel made numerous trips to Hawaii for sunshine and Oregon, Virginia and Louisiana to visit family. Ann renewed her passport at the age of 90 with plans to visit her granddaughter in Norway.
Prior to moving into Fair Meadow Assisted Living (2013), Ann resided in Anchorage and attended First Free Methodist Church. She was steadfast in her faith and love of the Lord. Ann enjoyed reading, Skyping, emailing and contributing to the "family letter." At Fair Meadow Ann reconnected with friends from her growing up years. Ann will be dearly missed by her immediate family, many friends, and extended family.
Ann is survived by her sister, Martha Ruth Smith, DeRidder, Louisiana; daughter Janice (Greg) Gullickson, Anchorage, AK; two sons Reid (Grace), Fertile and Brent (Maureen), Portland, OR; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Esther Colebank and Judy Millen. Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Mel; brothers, Maynard, Lawrence, Norman and John Colebank; and sister, Grace Anderson.

Funeral services will be on Saturday, January 23, 2016, at 11 AM in the Hope Evangelical Free Church, Fertile, MN.

Visitation will be on Friday, January 22, 2016, from 5-7 pm with a prayer service at 6:30 pm in the Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home, Fertile, MN.

Burial will be in the Fertile City Cemetery, Fertile, MN.