July 29, 1950 – October 29, 2024
Douglas Haefner passed away at home on October 29, 2024, after a short battle with brain cancer.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, Nov. 2, at New Song Church in Bismarck, ND.
Douglas Arthur Haefner was born to Arthur Emil and Ruth Othelia (Baer) Haefner on July 29, 1950 in Mobridge. He grew up in Mobridge, and at the age of six moved with the family to the Grover Hand Ranch in Dewey County.
Doug attended Chamberlain Country School through fifth grade and attended middle school in Trail City. He graduated from Maplewood Academy in Hutchinson, MN in 1968. Following graduation, Doug attended Northern State College in Aberdeen, and then attended Bismarck Junior College, where he earned his carpentry apprenticeship degree.
Doug loved cars. His pride and joy was his red Ford Mustang Mach I that he often drove to Mobridge, where he met the love of his life, Debra Joy Fode. Doug and Deb married on May 30, 1974, in Mobridge at the Trinity Lutheran Church. Soon after, the newlyweds moved to Bismarck, ND. Doug and Deb were blessed with two children. Their daughter, Melissa Sue was born in October of 1977 and in 1979 their son, Bryan Douglas was born. Growing up, the kids were very active in Pathfinders and the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Doug worked for Froeschle’s Construction from 1976 to 1988 and Capital City Construction from 1988 to 1990. In 1983 Doug built their forever home in North Bismarck and in 1990 they started their own business, Haefner Construction.
Doug and Deb loved going to their grandchildren’s basketball, volleyball, football games and all of their track and school events. After retiring he and Deb spent the winter months in their home in Sun City, AZ.
Doug is survived by his wife Deb; children Melissa (Matt) Sagaser and Bryan; grandchildren Ashton (Kaleb) McGraw, Adison and Aiden Sagaser, and Melissa Lynn (Jeremy); greatgrandchildren Willow and Harper; siblings Yvonne, Mike (Christine), David, and Susan (Dale) Bender; sisters- and brothers-in-law Pauline Ehrmantraut, John (Shirley) Fode, Joan (Cliff) Wilson, Albert (Birdie) Fode, Delores Page, Arthur (Deb) Fode, and Robert Fode.
He was preceded in death by his parents Art and Ruth Haefner; Deb’s parents John and Myrtle Fode; stepdad Herb Becker; sister Bonnie Weron; and brothers- and sisters-inlaw, Gary Page and Ben Ehrmantraut, Betty Jean Fode, and Margaret Fode.