Rogene Aadnes

Rogene Margaret Aadnes, 86, of Towner, died at Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby on Sept. 1, 2009.

She was born on her parents' homestead five miles south of Sanish, N.D., on Feb. 27, 1923. Her parents were Gerhard and Beatrice (Wolding) Gullickson. She went to school at Sanish and graduated from high school in Walla Walla, Wash., in 1941. She moved to Long Beach, Calif., and attended business college there. Her family had concerns about living in California after the attack on Pearl Harbor, so she returned to North Dakota. She graduated from Capital Commercial College in Bismarck and worked at the State Auditor's office. She returned to California and worked for two years as a secretary for the Long Beach Army Air Transport Command. In 1944 she returned to North Dakota and worked at a grain elevator in Minot.

She married Rolf Aadnes on June 20, 1945, in Stanley, N.D. They moved to Van Hook until Rolf entered the Army in the fall of 1945. They lived at Fort Lewis and Seattle before returning to North Dakota in 1947, where they lived in New Town, Minot, Upham, and Towner. She worked at the Towner Nursery, cafes in Towner, and the McHenry County Treasurer's office. In 1974 she began working her most enjoyable job, as a nurse's aide at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Rugby.

She was very active in the Towner community as a member of the Green Thumb, Senior Citizens, Senior Meals, Zion Lutheran Church and Circles, the Homemakers Club, the VFW Auxiliary, the Whist and Birthday Clubs. She enjoyed traveling around the United States and three trips to Norway. She moved to Rugby in 2004.

Rogene's grandkids and great-grandkids brought an extra special smile and a light to her eyes. She felt being called "Greatma" was an honor. Rogene was very proud of her family. She cherished each and every moment she could spend with them. She gave us many happy memories whether it be the sleepovers at her apartments, the king of the hill hay rides, the motel stays, the baseball games or getting to stand back-to-back with Gramma to see who was taller. The children thought they were really somebody when they got to be taller, even though it happened around the age of 10 or so! Thanks Mom and Gramma for the memories. We love and miss you. We know you will watch over us all from up above as our Guardian Angel.

She is survived by: her children, Ronald and wife Shelly of Stanley; Gwen and husband Bob Green of Towner; Karen and husband Jim Gattis of Mission Viejo, Calif.; David and wife Pam of Washburn; and Gary and wife Jane of Thompson Station, Tenn., and daughter-in-law Karen Aadnes of Shelton, Wash. She also leaves 20 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Dene Gullickson of Florida and O.T. Gullickson of Washington.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Rolf, on Sept. 3, 1982; a son, Wayne, on May 6, 2009; and a brother, Gordon Gullickson.

Visitation and prayer service: Visitation Sunday, Sept. 6, from 3 to 9 p.m., and prayer service at 7 p.m., at Niewoehner Funeral Home in Rugby.

Funeral services: Will be held at the Zion Lutheran Church in Towner on Monday, Sept. 7, 2009, at 10 a.m.

Burial: At the Van Hook Cemetery at New Town Monday at 2:30 p.m.