Haldis Kaasa

Haldis I. Kaasa, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah, at the age of 90. Private Family Graveside Services will be held in the Brush Point Cemetery in Hanlontown, Iowa, Worth County, at a later date. Haldis Inger (Solem) Kaasa was born May 19, 1931, in Aure, Norway, the daughter of Peder and Karen (Vinje) Solem. She met her American husband, Harris E. Kaasa, in Norway. They were united in marriage February 22, 1953, in Norway. This union was blessed with one son, Kai Thomas, born on May 29, 1954. Haldis emigrated from Norway in 1953 and became a United States Citizen in 1958 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Her husband was Assistant Pastor in Watertown, South Dakota for two years. She and her family spent time in Norway and England, but primarily made their home in Decorah, where Harris was a professor at Luther College. Before marriage, Haldis worked in the State Archives in Oslo, Norway. She received her BA from Luther College in 1981 in Art and Scandinavian Studies. Most of her life she was a homemaker. Haldis was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, WELCA and Anna Circle. She was also a member of Luther College Women’s Club and the Norsemen’s Federation. Later in life she cared for her disabled son. She liked to take walks, read, watch TV, and listen to music. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harris on December 28, 1983; two brothers, Bjarne Solem and Målfrid Solem, and two sisters, Borghild Engdal and Rachel Bjørnevåg/Sollid. Haldis is survived by her son, Kai Kaasa of Garnavillo, Iowa, and many relatives in Norway. In lieu of flowers, memorials be given to Luther College, c/o Development Office, 700 College Drive, Decorah, IA 52101, Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, P.O. Box 379, Decorah, IA 52101, or Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 701 Iowa Ave., Decorah, IA 52101.