Harriet Carmen Hagenson

A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, December 4, at Valley of the Sun Funeral Home in Chandler, Arizona. Visitation is at 1:00 p.m., service at 2:00 p.m. with burial to follow. Pastor Roger Gordon, King of Glory Lutheran Church in Tempe, will be officiating. The family encourages all guests (even those who in other states) to wear bright colors on this day to celebrate Harriet’s strong spirit and zest for life.

Harriet was born on August 4, 1930. She was the first child for parents Hazel (Helgren) and Cornelius (C.N.) Stenberg of Thompson, Iowa. She was joined by two siblings, Mavis (Stenberg) Linde and Roger Stenberg.

Harriet grew up in rural Thompson and Rake, Iowa and graduated from Thompson High School. She started her college education at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and later obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Mankato State University—over the summers while raising a family.

She met her future husband, Reyburn Julian Hagenson, at the famous Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. On December 22, 1950, Ray and Harriet married at Bethany Lutheran Church in Thompson, Iowa. They lived in Thompson where Ray farmed and Harriet taught piano lessons and various grades in small, rural schools. They had six children: Richard Lynn, Marcus Ray, Kent Alan, Darcy Rae, Deanna Lynn and later added Chad Michael to the mix after moving to Emmetsburg, Iowa.

While in Emmetsburg, Harriet taught a wide variety of subjects and grade levels in Ayrshire, Iowa. She put her heart and soul into her teaching and her students and was a favorite of many. Harriet was also very involved in her community as a talented church organist, artist, pianist, choir instructor, Sunday school teacher, neighborhood baker and seamstress. Later, Harriet turned her talent for connecting with people to the real estate market in Emmetsburg while Ray built his career as Manager of Custom Farm Service.

In 1984, Harriet and Ray moved to Gilbert, Arizona where Harriet continued to raise the standards higher in real estate—being recognized by the Realtor Counsel as a multi-million dollar producer several years in a row. As always Harriet was all about family, working with her sons Marcus, a mortgage loan officer, and Chad, who is still a successful realtor today.

Harriet never had a loss for words or a lack of energy as she went through life with a can-do attitude and contagious personality.

Harriet has 15 grandchildren and step grandchildren: Jason and Jenna (Richard and Diane Hagenson of Gilbert, Az.); Heidi and Calvin (Marcus and Pat Hagenson of Tempe, Az.); Jenni Sonksen (Kent Hagenson and Michelle Dorweiler), Danielle, April (Michelle and Kenny Dorweiler of Clear Lake, Ia.); Ashley (Pelzer), Abby (Clemenson), Taylor VanOosbree, Blake VanOosbree, Jaxon (Darcy and Jeff Clemenson of Long Lake, Mn.); Kendall Harken (Deanna Harken of Minnetonka, Mn.); Jake and Sydney (Chad and Casey (Smith) Hagenson of Gilbert, Az.). Many nieces, nephews, cousins and three great-grandchildren, Trevor, Bryce and Liam (Jenni and Ben Sonksen of Johnston, Ia.)

Harriet is preceded in death by her parents Hazel and Cornelius Stenberg husband Reyburn Hagenson, son Kent and brother Roger Stenberg.