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Ely woman dies in two-car crash

Online fundraising effort underway to help the family

Keith Vandervort
Posted 11/30/16

ELY – The Ely community was hit hard over the Thanksgiving weekend by the death of Nina Haaversen. A YouCaring compassionate crowdfunding online fundraising event is currently underway to help the …

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Ely woman dies in two-car crash

Online fundraising effort underway to help the family

Posted

ELY – The Ely community was hit hard over the Thanksgiving weekend by the death of Nina Haaversen. A YouCaring compassionate crowdfunding online fundraising event is currently underway to help the family.

Haaversen, 51, died in a two-car traffic accident on Wednesday, Nov. 23 when her car slipped on an icy Highway 169 outside of town.

“Nina was a fiercely loving mother and a tireless community volunteer,” said Mary Groeninger, on the online funding page she organized for the family.

Nina is survived by her husband, Carl, and four children, Jon, Rachel, Erick and Caty. The family moved to Ely 15 years ago. She was very active in the community. “Here in Ely, we knew her best by the many feasts she put on for our community,” Groeninger said. “Nina’s mango salsa rocked the ski team’s annual taco supper for years. Her endless patience and infectious laughter led countless crews of volunteers through Nordic Wolves fundraisers.”

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Haaversen was driving her Toyota Camry near milepost 277, in the vicinity of Wolf Lake Road at about 7:45 p.m. The road was reportedly snow-covered and icy at the time.

Haaversen had been traveling west, when she drifted right, then over-corrected into the eastbound lanes, according to the accident report. She hit a Dodge pick-up truck broadside driven by Aaron Nickolson, 37, also of Ely, who was traveling in the eastbound lane. He sustained non-life threatening injuries.

“The Haaversens are a gifted, caring family who have worked hard to achieve, but like so many other Americans, have struggled with layoffs, college tuition, and life expenses, always with good cheer and optimism but without a financial safety net,” Groeninger said. “Nina worked tirelessly to support her family, most recently cooking at Camp du Nord and delivering her pumpkin rolls to holiday gatherings around Ely. She was a bedrock of emotional and financial support for her husband and children, and her loss is still, for all who knew and loved her, unfathomable.”

According to the family’s obituary for Nina, she was an avid gardener who loved Ely but not its short growing season. She loved trying new things, including tapping maple trees to make syrup. The Haaversen family hosted high school exchange students from Japan, Italy, Germany and Brazil.

Groeninger continued, “The Haaversens need our love and our prayers, but their most immediate need is donations to cover many expenses, both short- and long-term, from travel home to funeral expenses, and rent as they grieve and sort through their life ahead.  Your contributions will help them fill that gap.”

Almost $9,000 had been raised by midweek from 130 donors. To contribute, go to www.youcaring.com.

If you prefer, you can also send a check to their home, 245 East White Street, Ely, MN  55731.

A celebration of Nina’s life will be held Saturday, Dec. 10, beginning at 1p.m. at LedgeRock Community Church in Ely. Memorials may be directed to the family or favorite charity.