Linda Lou Haakenson

Linda Lou (Cole) Haakenson, age 74, of West Salem and formerly of Westby, passed away Sunday, August 1, 2021, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease and the results of a stroke. Linda was born July 19, 1947, to Myron and Shirley (Hay) Cole in Westby, where she was born and raised on a farm outside of Westby. She graduated from Sugar Grove Grade school and then Westby High School with the Class of 1965. Right after Linda graduated high school, she was employed as a bookkeeper at Peterson Motors in Viroqua, where she worked for 15 years. While working at Peterson Motors, she married Mervin Haakenson on October 21, 1967. Linda also worked at Tri-State Breeders – Farm Products in Westby, Creative Screen Print in West Salem, and was Head Teller at Union State Bank in West Salem for the last 13 years of her career. Linda was a member of the Buick Honor Accountant Club, Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church, West Salem Lioness Club, and West Salem Rod and Gun Club as a lifetime member. Before her disability, Linda enjoyed camping and traveling, including multiple cruises with close friends to the Caribbean and Alaska, as well as fishing, gardening and flowers, cooking and baking, collecting antiques, and spending quality time with family and friends. Linda is survived by her husband, Mervin Haakenson; her children, Scott (Amy) Haakenson and Sue (Sean) Haakenson-Crook; grandchildren, Tanner and Tucker Schmitt, Elise and Cole Maxson, and Tezera Crook; great-grandchild, Paislee; her sister, Betty Barstad; and her brother, Roger (Krista) Cole. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law, Ned Barstad. A gathering for family and friends will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 8, 2021, at Vosseteig Funeral Home in Westby. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Parkinson’s Disease Research at Mayo Clinic. Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby is serving Linda's family. 708 S. Main St. Westby, WI 54667 (608) 634-2100