Duane Vaagen

With a diagnosis of brain cancer, I had the fortune (misfortune to some) to know when my time was near. This gave me a chance to write my own obituary. You should try it sometime; you might learn something about yourself! So instead of all the drivel about what a great guy I was, blah, blah, blah, blah. What I want you all to know is this: I, Duane H. Vaagen, Taylor, North Dakota passed away on April 3, 2014 after a brief bout with brain cancer. Per my last wishes, no ceremony will be held. To my friends and acquaintances, all I ask is that sometime when you have a moment, go somewhere quiet and have a toast and reflect on all things that are truly important in life. To the takers and users in the world, well you know what to do with yourselves! I started my oilfield career working western ND, MT and Wyoming. As a Petroleum Engineer, I continued working the drilling side of things. I worked projects from offshore Gulf of Mexico to the North Slope of Alaska with stints in Ecuador, Canada and Australia. I spent the last 7 years working projects in Wyoming, Pennsylvania and North Dakota. While I enjoyed the work, most important were the ton of good people I met along the way. There were a few rascals and shysters in there too, but mostly good. The experiences, challenges and friendships I’ve made along the way, outweighed any of the monetary benefits by miles. But I cannot tell a lie, I thoroughly enjoyed the monetary benefits as well! But know this, there is a cost for everything, and time is the ultimate cost. Pick your priorities in life wisely. I missed out on a lot because of my travels and work. If you must pray, go ahead, but pray for our soldiers as well. Pray for the souls of the ones that are and have been put in harms way for the special interests of the few back east and overseas (and ask yourselves why this is happening). If you must do something, call your congressmen and tell them to get their head of out their asses, because their leaving a pile of rubble for future generations. If you need to donate, donate to either the Wounded Warriors Project or to your nearest women’s and children’s shelter. I am survived by an angel, my wife Paula B. Vaagen who has been by my side since meeting in Anchorage, Alaska in 1994. We had 10 wonderful years of adventure and misadventure in the mountains, on the waterways and in the back-country of Alaska until we decided to pull up stakes and take over the family farm in North Dakota. I am also survived by 4 brothers, Les (Bobbi) Vaagen, Dean Vaagen (Pamela Marzinski), Keith Vaagen, Kent (Karen) Vaagen, nieces, nephews and lastly, my mother, Adeline Vaagen. As I write this, I know in my heart I have made peace with the powers that be. I have done things I regret in life, even (believe it or not) made some mistakes here and there; but I guess you’re not living if that is not your story. BUT there are more things that I regret not doing or saying, for lack of a better way of saying it, due to lack of courage; and this weighs far more heavily than the mistakes. Lastly: Whatever you do, do it well. And please try and leave things a bit better for the next generation than the way you found them! Regards and see you on the other side, hopefully not too soon: Duane H. Vaagen


Burial Date: April 14, 2014
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND