Monroe Houglum, 86, Ulen, MN, formerly Waubun, MN, died Saturday, November 18, 2006, in the Twin Valley Living Center, Twin Valley, MN, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Victor Monroe Houglum was born June 26, 1920, near Flom, Minnesota, the son of Edward C. and Alma (Jesness) Houglum. He was raised on the family farm northeast of Flom and attended school in Waubun, Minnesota. Monroe graduated from the Waubun High School with the class of 1937. After high school he attended teacher,s college in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Monroe taught at District 46 in Walworth Township near Flom until he entered the Army shortly after Pearl Harbor was attacked. He was a First Lieutenant and was an instructor in the infantry before being sent to Japan near the end of the War. On January 10, 1943, Monroe was united in marriage to Thelma Otterson at Ulen, Minnesota. After the War they returned to the Waubun community and Monroe began working for the Farmers State Bank. He was in the banking business over 50 years. During a portion of that time he served as co-owner, retiring in 1996. Monroe also owned and operated H and H Insurance in Waubun and served on the Flom Mutual Insurance Board for over 30 years. Monroe and Thelma moved to Ulen a year ago and have lived there since.

Monroe was active in the Trinity Lutheran Church where he served on the church board. He served his community for 25 years as a school board member and was well known for singing at countless funerals and weddings. He was a member of the Ogema VFW and the Mahnomen American Legion. Monroe loved baseball and was a faithful fan of the Minnesota Twins. He also enjoyed fishing and spending time at their lake cabin at Tulaby Lake. The special times that were spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and will long be remembered.

He survived by his wife Thelma, Ulen, MN, one daughter, Diane (Terry) Tobin, Barnesville, MN; three sons, Bruce (Diane) Fargo, ND, Barry (Jeanine) Ulen, MN and Gregg (Barb), Fargo, ND; one brother, James (Harriet), Alexandria, MN; 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Edgar.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 25th at 11:00am in the Trinity Lutheran Church, Waubun, MN. Officiating will be Pastor Loren Fevig with Monica Winter serving as organist and Gregg, Bruce and Tom Houglum providing special music. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Kirsten Mitchell, Karin Rudd, Emily Peterson, Eric Houglum, Nicole Langerud, Tiffany Brenna, Alicia Carley, Cody Houglum, John Tobin and Josh Tobin. Military Honors will be provided by the Isaacson-Bjorge Post #31 of the American Legion, Mahnomen, MN.
Visitation will be Friday November 24th from 5:00pm until 7:00pm in the Anderson-Mattson Funeral Home, Mahnomen, MN and one hour before services at the church. A prayer service will be held Friday at 7:00pm in the Anderson-Mattson Funeral Home, Mahnomen, MN.
Interment will be in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Twin Valley, MN.