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'Haaky' turns 100

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Luverne centenarian celebrates milestone, moves to Oaks
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By
Mavis Fodness

Helmer Haakenson had one thought on his mind in 2007 when surgeons told the then 88-year-old his aortic value replacement would last 15 years.
“It will get me to one hundred,” he said last week.
His 100th birthday came Wednesday, Feb. 20, and he celebrated with friends and family at his new home at The Oaks senior apartments in Luverne.
The gathering included his favorite dessert, chocolate cake topped with chocolate frosting.
More celebrating continued Saturday with more servings of chocolate cake (with the addition of lefse) at St. Catherine Church in Luverne for the man affectionately known as “Haaky.”
The family get-togethers were the only gifts the new centenarian wanted.
“He has everything,” son Mike of Luverne explained. “We tried to give him gifts several years ago and they sat in his closet.”
Haakenson’s closets were recently emptied.
Up until four days before his birthday, Haakenson lived on his own at the Elmwood Drive house he helped build in 1961.
Haakenson and his late wife, Joan, who died in 2004, raised five children. Cheryl now lives in Concord, California; Marsha in Gary, South Dakota; Sandra in Delano, Minnesota; Mike and Mary both in Luverne.
The family has grown to include nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren with an additional great-grandchild on the way.
Haakenson was born in Section 5 of Magnolia Township and attended country school through the eighth grade.
“I didn’t go to high school, but I went to college,” he said.
A five-year stint (1940 to 1945) in the military preceded his college degree as an electrician from the Dunwoody Institute in the Twin Cities.
His first job brought him and Joan back to Luverne in 1950. Haakenson worked for Stan Hinkly until 1955, when he accepted a position with an electricians’ union in Sioux Falls.
Haakenson stayed with the union until six months short of his 62nd birthday. He broke his arm in an accident on the job, and he spent a month in the hospital recuperating before he announced his retirement.
Once healed, Haakenson embraced retired life.
Until age 98, he was an avid golfer, swam and exercised regularly, and became “Mr. Fix-It” around the house.
“He could figure out anything,” daughter Mary said. “He could have been an engineer.”
Haakenson attributed his longevity to genetics and living “one day at a time.” His mother lived to age105.
“She knew me up until the very last minute,” he said.
Two of his remaining three sisters follow Haakenson in age. Helen is 98 and Lorraine will soon be 95.
His “one day at a time” philosophy also applies to the one prescription he takes for his valve replacement. He keeps his joints healthy by consuming a little cod liver oil.
“It isn’t age if you feel good,” Haakenson said and then pointed to his head. “And have the gray stuff left.”

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