Grace Hammer, 72
Thief River Falls - Grace Hammer, 72, died Tuesday, August 29, 2000 at Valley Elder Care in Grand Forks, N.D.
Services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 1, at Zion Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls with Rev. Robert Dahlen officiating. Ida Nordvall was the organist, and the pianist was Diane Johnson. Casketbearers were Gerald Johnson, Gary Johnson, Maurice Stenseth, Alex Moe, James Koropatnicki, Donald Longevan, Robert Swanson and Ted Koropatnicki.
On Thursday, August 31, visitation was held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Thief River Falls followed by visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service at Bethany Lutheran Church, rural Thief River Falls. Officiating were Rev. Robert Dahlen and Rev. Gary Halverson. Following the prayer service, burial was held in Bethany Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Grace Evangeline Dahlen was born on April 11, 1928 in Grygla, the daughter of Henry and Caroline (Iverson) Dahlen. She was baptized by Rev. Ranum on May 6, 1928 and confirmed by Rev. Bjorgan on November 9, 1941 at Ekelund Lutheran Church. The family lived in Star township of Pennington county, and Grace attended Clovernook School through the eighth grade. She also attended the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston. Following school, she returned to the family farm. In 1946, the family moved to Thief River Falls where Grace worked as a dental assistant for Dr. Ewing and Dr. Snyder from 1946 until 1949.
On September 24, 1949, Grace was united in marriage to Arnold Hammer at Trinity Lutheran Church by Rev. G.S. Thompson. The couple lived in Thief River Falls for a short time before building their home in Smiley township of Pennington County. In addition to helping out on the farm, Grace was an organist for over 60 years. She started playing for church services at the age of 12 at Ekelund Church. She also sang in the American Legion Ladies Quartet. Through the years, she taught piano students and enjoyed singing at community and church events, including more than 1,000 funerals.
Grace was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church were she played organ, planned funeral lunches, sang and was involved in various other activities. She also volunteered at Challenger Preschool and enjoyed entertaining residents at many area nursing homes.
She enjoyed sewing, playing her piano, cooking, baking, making gifts from needlework and visiting with family and friends. She especially enjoyed cooking, sharing her music and spending time with her grandchildren.
Grace is survived by her husband, Arnold; one daughter, Ruth (Rev. Gary) Halverson of Karlstad; three sons, John (Delaine) Hammer and Lynn (Carol) Hammer, both of Thief River Falls, and Dale (Kathy) Hammer of Grand Forks, N.D.; nine grandchildren; one great-grandson; one brother, Olaf (Lois) Dahlen of Willmar; one brother-in-law; two sisters-in-law; one uncle; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She as preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Erling Dahlen and infant Roy Dahlen; and one sister, Alice Skreland.
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