Bonnie B. Haugen

Haugen, Bonnie B., 83, owner of Bonnie Haugen Estate and Consignment Sales, Inc., passed away Tuesday, July 5, 2011. Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 9 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Preceded in death by husband, James Fossen Haugen. Survivors: son and daughter-in-law, Mikkel and Sandra Haugen of Wichita; sister, Mary K. Wilkerson of Lenexa, KS. “Bonnie Lou” or “Bon” was born May 30, 1928 in Milton, Kansas to Glenn A. and Martha (Carroll) Brewer, the first of four children. Not having a real strong desire to stay on the farm, Mom struck out for the bright lights of Wichita staying at the YWCA womens dorm where she began her senior year in high school at Wichita East, graduating in 1946. She attended Wichita University, (now Wichita State University), for three years and was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. Mom worked at KFH radio and KAKE TV during the late 40s and early 50s.the glory days of Wichita radio and TV. She also modeled at Wichitas Innes Tearoom located in the Geo. Innes Co. department store, later Macys. Mom met James Haugen while working for a local insurance agent Elmer Beasley. They were married September 10, 1949, loving each other madly for 54 years until Dads death in 2003. There are two things couples should never do together: hang wallpaper or teach the other one how to play golf. While the wallpaper “experiment” did not work out, Mom became the quintessential “golf bum” scoring two holes- in-one during her career. In 1973, while leading the City Womens 18-hole Match Play Tournament, she withdrew from the tournament on the last hole and rushed to be with Dad after he suffered an appendicitis attack. Mom and Dad were members of Crestview Country Club for 59 years where Mom was one of the founding members of a group of cut- throat golfers I frequently referred to very respectfully as “The Bandits”. They usually had several dozen bets going on each hole and all hated loosing. They were a force of nature that no one on the course dared to cross. Mom learned the estate sale business from Mrs. Meeker and Polly Toombs, (The Four Crooks), and Joy Walker. She broke out on her own eventually forming HHL Estate Sales with friends Vivian Larmer and Norma Harris, and finally Bonnie Haugen Estate Consignment Sales, Inc. Mom loved EVERYTHING about the estate sales business: the stuff, the people, her crew, the research and most importantly “the deal”. She loved to negotiate and was a pro closer. She remained a highly respected member of Wichitas estate sale community after her retirement in 2006. Mom loved life, her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, her “kids” Mick and Sandy, her dear sister Mary, friends, golf buddies, customers, and her beloved Jim. Death may have ended my Mothers life, but it did not cancel it. God Bless you Mom. Thanks for everything you have done for meI sure am going to miss you! A memorial has been established with Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1101 N. River Blvd., Wichita, KS, 67203. Downing Lahey Mortuary East.