Bella Hammer

Bella C. Hammer age 82, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, formerly of Fairdale, ND, passed away peacefully at Altru Hospital on June 11, 2010 surrounded by her loving family.

Bella C. Hooey was born December 8, 1927 at Nekoma, ND the daughter of Alexander and Ethel (Verke) Hooey. She lived in Churches Ferry, N.D. where she began her elementary education and moved back to Nekoma, ND after the death of her dad Alex. Bella was the foster child of Hans and Julia Hove in Osnabrock Township (Cavalier County), where she grew up and had many happy memories with her sister Ardelle and brother Howard. She attended the rest of grade school at the Osnabrock Township Consolidated School and went on to graduate from Nekoma High School. She attended Highland Lutheran Church where she was confirmed.

Bella married Elmer Hammer on June 10, 1947 at the Highland Lutheran church rural Fairdale, ND. They lived and farmed near Fairdale, ND for over 50 years. She had lived in the Sunset Home in Grafton since 2005.

Bella is a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, the A.L.C.W, and a member of the Concordia College C-400 club as well as the Fairdale Booster Club. Bella and Elmer were active in Lutheran Brotherhood and the Park River Bible Camp. Her kindness and generosity has touched many. Her nickname was Bella Baby. Bella enjoyed music, photography, reading, embroidery, traveling, watching Twins baseball, her granddaughters' sports activities, word search puzzles and until the decline of her health enjoyed attending as many activities as she could.

Bella is survived by and will be greatly missed and remembered by her daughter Karla Hammer (Tim Olson); grandchildren Megan, Courtney & Taylor Hammer and Jeff & Nick Olson. Her sister Ardelle(Donald) Krom; sister-in-law Marion (Howard) Hove; sister-in-law Rosie(Allen) Hooey; sister-in-law Bonnie(Edward) Hooey; half-brother Earl(Norma) Olson and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Elmer Hammer of 61 years (November 2008, her foster parents, her biological parents, and brothers Edward, William, Allen, Richard and Howard Hove.

Bella leaves a legacy of love, caring, understanding, spontaneity and laughter and brightened up the world. She will be sorely missed by all the lives she touched. Her memory will live on forever in our hearts. The Hammer family wishes to thank the Lutheran Sunset Home for the wonderful care and compassion shown to Bella over the past five years.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Tuesday June 15, 2010 at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church, Fairdale, ND.

Visitation will begin at 5:00 pm Monday, June 14, 2010 with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM at the Brooks Funeral Home of Langdon, ND. Visitation will also take place for one hour before the time of the services at the church on Tuesday.

Interment will be at Silvesta Cemetery of Fairdale, ND.