MADISON - Rachel (Thompson) Severson Hauge, age 88, of Madison, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at Stoughton Hospital. She was born on July 3, 1934, in Madison, Wis., the daughter of Raymond J. and Myrtle (Gaskin) Thompson.

Rachel graduated from Stoughton High School in 1952 and then began working as a bookkeeper for American Exchange Bank on the Madison square. Following his U.S. Army service in Korea, she married Norman H. (“White”) Severson from Sun Prairie, Wis., on Sept. 12, 1953. In 1959, the couple moved to Sun Prairie, where they became charter members of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. She had many close life-long friends from Our Saviors and enjoyed her time as a parish worker there. After her children were in school, Rachel held various part-time office jobs before beginning a full-time position with the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation as a data entry clerk. Following Norm’s death, Rachel married James M. Hauge in 1996 and moved to his family’s homestead property in Pleasant Springs Township.

Rachel had a great sense of humor. She enjoyed flower gardening, camping (except for the mosquitos), drinking coffee, and eating cookies and ice cream. She always loved music, beginning when her mother played piano and the rest of the family sang along; then singing in school choirs, with her husband and kids in the car, and leading Sunday school music time at Our Saviors. She and Norm took their “trip of a lifetime,” to Hawaii in 1977, to celebrate their 25th anniversary along with her sister, Irene, and her husband, “Sherm,” who were celebrating their 30th anniversary. Rachel and Jim enjoyed gardening, eating out, and going to garage sales and antique shops. Most of all, Rachel loved spending time with family and friends.

Rachel is survived by her sister, Irene (Lavern “Bub” Severson); three sisters-in-law, Gladys Thompson, Ione Paulson and Patricia Severson; her daughter, Mary Ann (Mark) Aylesworth; son, Mark D. Severson; daughter-in-law, Lynda (Schmidt) Severson Mountford; four grandchildren, Paul and Sara (Ansell) Aylesworth, Laura and Josh (Brown) Aylesworth, Erica and Scott Guetzlaff, and Zachary and Kelly Severson; seven great-grandchildren, Ruby and Fern Aylesworth, Charlotte and Stella Guetzlaff, and Parker, Nolan and Violet Severson; many nieces and nephews; five Hauge stepchildren, Kerry (Michelle), Kim (Tim) Smith, Gregory (Eva), Wade (Audrey) and Jason; and many Hauge step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Norman Severson and James Hauge; son, John H. Severson; brothers, Willard and Robert C. Thompson; brothers-in-law, Olaf Larson and Ervin Severson; sisters-in-law, Sylvia Severson and Madelyn Thompson; and stepdaughters, Colleen Hauge and Rhonda (Hauge) Huettl.

Rachel’s family is very thankful to the staffs of Brookdale Madison West Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care facility and Stoughton Hospital Geriatric Psychiatry Department for their loving care of Rachel at the end of her life.

A funeral service will be held at OUR SAVIOR'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 550 Lincoln Drive, Sun Prairie, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, with Pastor Tim Hansen presiding. Burial will be at Sun Prairie Memory Garden. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Tuesday. Following the graveside ceremony, a luncheon will be held at Buck and Honey’s Restaurant, 804 Liberty Blvd., Sun Prairie.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin and Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420