Oct. 12, 1917 - Oct. 8, 2008

Wanita M. Haugen, 90, formerly of the Scio and Albany areas, died Wednesday at a Woodburn retirement facility.

Wanita was born to a pioneer family in Lebanon, the daughter of Elmer and Anna (Obrist) Propst. She lived on the family farm near Albany throughout her childhood, where she attended and later graduated from high school. She attended Oregon Normal School in Monmouth, where she received her teacher's certificate. She continued her education in Monmouth and eventually received her bachelor's and master's degrees in education.

She taught at several schools in the Willamette Valley, most notably at Highland School in Salem and Scio Middle School. Her favorite subjects were math and art. She retired as principal at Scio Middle School in the early 1980s.

Wanita enjoyed many hobbies and interests that kept her very busy. She traveled extensively and visited many places throughout the world. She was a member of the Sons of Norway and Eastern Star. She had been an editor for the newspapers in the communities of Scio as well as the News and Views Paper in Woodburn. She enjoyed dancing, playing pinochle, swimming, quilting and wood carving. She had a love for nature and enjoyed gardening and growing flowers.

Wanita married Lowell Myers in the late 1930s. From this union were born daughters Carol and Enid and a son, Eldred. Wanita and Lowell later divorced. She married Ole S. Haugen in Carson City, Nev., on June 5, 1962. Ole preceded her in death in 1984. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Allen Propst.

She is survived by two daughters, Carol and husband "Bud" Earl of The Dalles, and Enid Dolecheck of Cary, N.C.; son Eldred "L.D." and wife Peggy Myers of Tigard; brothers Eldon and Bruce Propst, both of Albany; sister Wilma Fryer of Albany; five grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be from

4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Huston-Jost Funeral Home. No service is planned. Private burial will be in the Franklin Butte Cemetery near Scio.

The family requests memorial contributions be sent to the Scio Historical Depot Museum, in care of Huston-Jost Funeral Home, 86 W. Grant St., Lebanon, OR 97355 (www.huston

jost.com).