Mildred Hathaway

Mildred Hathaway, age 88, of Twin Valley, Minnesota, died Wednesday, February 21, 2007, in the Twin Valley Living Center, Twin Valley. Mildred Othelia Olestad was born June 24, 1918, in Twin Valley, Minnesota, where she grew up and attended school. Millie was one of seven children born to Oscar and Hilda (Samshal) Olestad. Millie left high school before graduating to help her family financially. Millie married Millard Aagenes in November, 1938. They moved around the Twin Valley area, before settling in Hastings, North Dakota. There they raised a family and owned the M & M Market. They moved to Billings, Montana in 1963 and Millie worked at a nursing home in that community. In 1966, Millie was united in marriage to Dick Hathaway. They were married up until his death in 1986. Millie and Dick lived in numerous places and traveled extensively. They loved to camp and explore new places together. Millie, always the energetic, devoted worker, brought a certain spark and joy wherever she worked—the small town store, a factory job, a big city gas station, or a nursing home taking care of residents and friends. In 1987, Millie moved back to Twin Valley to be closer to friends and family, where she cheerfully spent the last 20 years of her life. She was fortunate to rent a house from, and next door to, her good friend, Lorraine Johnson. Millie volunteered at the Valley Pines, for RSVP, for the church, and other organizations in the community. Millie was known for her easy smile and her busy hands. She was a tireless worker, whether in the garden, at her sewing machine, in her kitchen, or helping her friends and neighbors. Many people have treasured items that she made for them, quilts, clothes or Christmas decorations. Millie is survived by her son, Charles Aagenes and his wife, Marsha McFarland of Helena, Montana; daughter, Roanna Olds of Fort Bragg, California; daughter-in-law, Carol Aagenes of Fargo, North Dakota. Also surviving are her brother, Kirby Olestad and his wife, Arlene of International Falls, Minnesota; grandchildren, Lisa Favaro and her son Dimitri of Edina, Minnesota; Marsha Wood and her two children of Kalispell, Montana; Wendy McAllister, her husband, Rick, and their three children of Devil’s Lake, North Dakota; Michael Aagenes of Las Vegas, Nevada; Jana Johnson, her husband, Lee and their three children of Fargo, North Dakota; Steven Aagenes, his wife, Rachel and their son of Helena, Montana; Mandy Aagenes and her husband, Clay Speich fo Helena, Montana; Helen Olds and her husband, Matt House of San Rafael, California; and Mark Aagenes of Missoula, Montana. Millie was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dick Hathaway, five siblings, Sanford Olestad, Hazel Reiten, Noreen Johnson, Oris Olestad and Morris Olestad; her sons, Morris Aagenes and Marlin Aagenes; her grandson, Michael Olds and her great-granddaughter, Stephanie Wood. Millie’s family extends a special thank you to the kind people who work and volunteer at Twin Valley Pines and Twin Valley Living Center and Red River Valley Hospice for their loving and attentive care of our mother, grandmother and friend. Millie and her smile will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, February 26, 2007 at 10:30 AM in Zion Lutheran Church, Twin Valley. Visitation will be one hour before services at the church on Monday. Officiating will be Pastor Charles Bade with Danette Gwin serving as organist and Karen Bergstrom serving as vocalist. Pallbearers will be Steven Aagenes, C.Mark Aagenes, Michael Aagenes, Rick McAllister, Lee Johnson Kurt Swenby and Clay Speich, Burial will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery.

Mildred Hathaway

June 24, 1918 - February 21, 2007