Karen (Wiggen) Levang

Karen (Wiggen) Levang, 67, passed away during the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, March 20, 2016 at the Luther Memorial Home in Mayville, ND. Karen Wiggen was born August 13, 1948 in the "old" Union Hospital in Mayville to Haftor and Doris Wiggen of Portland, ND. Karen was the youngest of four children and the only sister to brothers David, Thomas and James. She attended elementary and high school in Portland and graduated in 1966. She later attended Mayville State College and NDSCS in Wahpeton where she became a licensed practical nurse. Karen worked as a nurse at the Grand Forks Clinic before she was married. She later worked as a nurse at Luther Memorial Home, and for several years at the Mayville Clinic. Karen married Randall Levang of Edinburg February 27, 1971, at Fort Bliss, Texas (El Paso). They spent the first year of their married life in Germany. Karen enjoyed living in Germany very much. In the summer of 1972 they returned to Portland. In July of 1985 she became the mother of Anthony and Martin, twin boys adopted from the Philippines, who were born September 7, 1984. These days and a few years that followed marked the happiest time of her adult life. "Mom" was the most precious title to her. She resigned from her job at the Mayville Clinic shortly after the boys arrived and opened a licensed daycare at her home so she wouldn't have to be away from "her babies". In 1987 Karen was diagnosed with "chronic progressive multiple sclerosis". By the time of the diagnosis the disease had already progressed significantly and she found herself confined to a wheel chair in 1988. Karen managed to stay at home until the boys finished high school which had been a goal, but was admitted to Luther Memorial Home in the fall of 2002. She lived there until her death on March 20th, 2016. Before her illness progressed, Karen was very talented and had several hobbies. She was excellent at all of them, including ceramics, knitting and crochet, cake decorating, macramé, and calligraphy to name some. Karen and her family are members of Bruflat Lutheran Church in Portland. She was a member and past president of the Portland American Legion Auxiliary and was active in "Eastern Star" in Mayville. She is survived by Randall of Park River, ND; two sons: Anthony of Fargo, ND and Martin (Carmalin) of Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX; three grandchildren: Autum, Aundria and Lexi; three brothers: David Wiggen of Portland, ND, Thomas (Ginny) Wiggen of Cookeville, TN and James (Grace) Wiggen of Henderson, NV. Karen is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents. Visitation: Will be from 5–7 PM on Friday, March 25, 2016 at the Baker Funeral Home Chapel and will resume one hour prior to the service at the Luther Memorial Home Chapel. Funeral Service: 10:00 AM Saturday, March 26, 2016 at the Luther Memorial Home Chapel in Mayville, ND. Burial: Will be at the Bruflat Cemetery in Portland, ND.