Dakota Haukaas, 26, Owatonna
Dakota Raymond Haukaas, 26, of Owatonna, tragically passed away on Oct. 1, 2026, due to a long-time struggle with mental health.
Dakota was born on April 3, 2000, at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and was raised in Blooming Prairie, as a young child and later in Owatonna, as a teenager. He attended Blooming Prairie Elementary and then Owatonna High School.
Dakota explored many career paths throughout his life, from working in fast-paced restaurants and small-town businesses to hard labor jobs, to assisting vulnerable adults. He most recently worked selling cars at Rochester Motors in Rochester.
Dakota had a wide range of interests and hobbies. He loved playing video games, fishing, creating and playing music on the piano and guitar, going to the gym, playing Dungeons and Dragons, board games with family and friends, and cheering on his favorite football team, the Minnesota Vikings. His favorite movies included Lord of the Rings and the Star Wars Trilogy.
Dakota had a stronger impact on the lives of those around him than he ever realized. He was great company- filled with joy, laughter, and an all-around positive energy. Dakota encouraged those around him to live happy, healthy lives and to always reach their full potential. He had a heart so full, that the love that spilled from it was felt and spread by many. Dakota was creative, adventurous, and ambitious, always looking at how and where he could make a big change in his own life or in the lives of those around him. When Dakota was set on a task, he was an "all in" type of person.
Dakota is survived by his mother, Desirae (Ackerman) Brown of Wells; his father, Kenneth Haukaas of Omaha, Neb.; his biological father, Samol Sao of Cambodia; his grandmother Donna Johnson of Watkins, Minn.; his sisters, TyLynn (Ethan) Whitney of Medford, Mariah Ackerman of Wells, Megan Duffy of Eagan, and Janyce Haukaas of Avoca, Iowa; his niece Evelyn Whitney; his uncles, Denny Haukaas of Omaha, Christopher Haukaas of Omaha, Vincent Ackerman of Mankato, Seth Ackerman of Red Wing, and aunt, Jocelyn (Ackerman) (Rodney) Sikel of Faribault; along with many cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Donald Ackerman of Owatonna; his grandmother, Nancy Haukaas of Omaha; his cousin Christian Haukaas; and his cousin Denny Jr. "DJ" Haukaas.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 4– 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, at Brick-Meger Funeral Home, 1603 Austin Road, Owatonna. Memorials may be directed to the family through GoFundMe at https://gofund.me/4bea10525 or mailed to the funeral home ‘to the attention of Haukaas family’ at the address listed above.
For more information or to leave an online message of condolence, go to www.megercares.com.