Lucetta Tougas
Lucetta Tougas Obituary
Lucetta A. Tougas, 89, of Fargo, died Friday, November 2, 2018, at Villa Maria in Fargo surrounded by her family.
What do you say when it’s your mom that has died? When it is your heart that is simultaneously bursting with joy for her and breaking for yourself?
Lucetta Ann Tougas was born on October 27th, 1929 in Pelican Rapids, MN to James and Birdella Cole. She grew up on a farm just south of town. She went to school in Pelican and used to tell us how much she enjoyed cross-country skiing to school in the winter. And, as the geography was back then, it was many miles and uphill both ways.
Mom met Dad when she was a teenager and those two crazy kids fell madly in love. But as it went with many back then, WWII got in their way for awhile. While Dad joined the Navy and went to the South Pacific, mom and her family went to Tacoma, Washington and worked in the shipyards as their contribution to the war effort. After the war ended, they were reunited, and love bloomed once again. They were united in marriage on September 27th, 1948 in Elizabeth, MN. And so it began…
She went on to have eight children. Seven boys and one girl. I’m not sure how that happened, but it did!
Mom was always a creative and talented lady. She was interested in everything. Some of her talents were easier to share than others. Just ask me and several of her daughters-in-law how the sewing lessons went! She always had a huge garden and grew much of the food we ate. She always said not to plant flowers on her grave but to plant tomatoes instead!
Then one day she took a ceramics class and I guess she liked it because she bought the business. And so that began…
For the next 40 plus years she owned and operated Lu’s Ceramics out of the basement of her home. First in Moorhead, then in Wahpeton. So, if you have a ceramic Christmas tree, a big-mouth frog holding your kitchen scrubbie, or a Mr. Specks on your nightstand to hold your glasses, she is probably responsible.
Mom and Dad also purchased Dad’s childhood farm and transformed it into Campers’ Cove, a beautiful, lakeside campground.
Mom is survived by her children Sandy Tougas (James) of West Fargo, Leonard (Kathy) Tougas of Lady Lake, FL, Fran (Mary) Tougas of Lady Lake, FL, Jeff (Beth) Tougas of Fargo, Jay Tougas of Fargo, Curt Tougas of Willmar, MN, Pat (Toby) Tougas of Fargo and Chris (Tresa) Tougas of Fargo; 17 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.
Mom was preceded in death by her parents, brother Colin, husband Duane, son James, grandson Nicholas and great-granddaughter Charli.
So, what do we say now? Thank you, mom, for passing on your love, your creativity, your entrepreneurial spirit, your humor, your trick to making the best toast ever, and for making us all proud to call you mom, grandma, great-grandma and great-great grandma. Well done Lucetta Tougas, well done!
Mass: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 7, 2018, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in West Fargo.
Visitation: An hour prior to the Mass.
West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center
westfuneralhome.com
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