James Arthur Haugen

James Haugen died on February 1, 2025, in Denver, CO, surrounded by his family. 

 Jim was born March 9, 1942, in Alpena SD to Arthur Haugen and Leona (Srstka) Haugen and grew up on farm homesteaded by his Norwegian grandfather Sivert Olsen Haugen. He began his education in a one-room schoolhouse and graduated as the 1960 valedictorian of Wessington Springs SD High School. He then entered the US Naval Academy where he was awarded the Foreign Wars Prize for Excellence in Mathematics upon graduation in 1964. While in the Navy, he completed his MSCE from the University of Minnesota and served in many locations including France and Vietnam. On his final tour in Hawaii, he was certified as a private pilot.

After completing his Naval commitment, Jim moved to Colorado where earned an MBA from the University of Colorado and met his wife, Donna Bleifuss. Jim and Donna lived and worked in Los Alamos, NM for many years. Pursuant to Jim’s retirement from Los Alamos National Laboratory in 2013, they moved to Denver, CO.

Jim loved golf, travel, an occasional Akvavit cocktail and most of all his family. He could be found with his grandkids at a hockey rink, providing tips at a driving range, or until a few years ago strapping on his skis and trying to keep up with them. There were many family vacations to the mountains and Hawaii, where on his last visit he hopped in an open helicopter with his two oldest grandsons for a ride over the ocean. He was a good and loving man and will be missed. He is survived by his wife, Donna Bleifuss, and children, Liv Haugen and Erik Haugen (spouse Sarah Houghland), grandchildren, Garrett, Porter, and Eliza Rog, and Jon Haugen all of Denver, CO, a sister Janelle Hammer of Alva OK, niece Lisa Kiley and nephews Michael and Timothy Haugen.