MOUNT HOREB - Ruth D. (Howery) Haglund, 84, of Mount Horeb, passed away on Thursday January 8, 2026, after complications with chemotherapy treatment. She was born on September 6, 1941, the eldest of five children born to Ervin and Martha (Evenson) Howery of Cross Plains Township and was raised on the family farm.

Ruth graduated from Black Earth High School in 1959, and married Gerald "Jerry" Haglund on January 13, 1962. Their seven-year marriage produced two sons. Ruth worked as a legal secretary for multiple firms for many years while raising her boys, eventually retiring and taking on part-time secretarial duties for the Mount Horeb Mail until her recent cancer diagnosis. She was also involved in the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Association of Legal Secretaries.

Ruth liked 19th century American expansionist history, particularly regarding her Norwegian heritage. She was instrumental in transforming the Black Earth train depot into the Black Earth Historical Society and volunteered there for several years. She also researched her family's genealogical records as far back as two centuries before they arrived in America, and kept a database of milestones, stories, and contact information for all the descendants of her great-grandparents on both sides. In her earlier years she also enjoyed crafting, sewing, quilting and baking (especially Norwegian pastries). She also enjoyed tending to her flower garden and collecting many things, of which antique dolls were her favorite.

Ruth is survived by her sons, Todd (Lisa) Haglund of Mount Horeb and Trygve (Rebecca) Haglund of Oregon; step grandson, Patric Conner of Livingston, Wis.; and granddaughter, Anneka Haglund of Lake Forest, Ill; She is further survived by siblings, LeRoy Howery of Ellensburg, Wash., Jerry (Joyce) Howery on the family, now century old farm, Mount Horeb, and Karen (Holly) Howery of Halifax, Nova Scotia; brother-in-law, Leland Danz of Black Earth, many nieces and nephews and their children, and a database full of cousins. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Ervin and Martha; sister, Shirley Danz of Black Earth; and nephew, Jason Howery of Mount Horeb.

A funeral service will be held at IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHUCH, 310 W. Main St. Mount Horeb, at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 16, 2026, with Pastor Jared Parmley presiding. Burial will take place at Valley Home Cemetery. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON CAMACHO MOUNT HOREB FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 500 N. Eighth St., Mount Horeb, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 15, 2026, and also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Camacho Mount Horeb
Funeral & Cremation Care
500 N. Eighth St.
(608) 437-5077

Ruth Dorene Haglund

September 06, 1941 - January 08, 2026

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