Margaret Hammeren

Margaret Ann Hammeren, 77, was born on March 7, 1944, in Bismarck, to Pius and Ruth (Kearns) Hoffart. After a courageous battle with cancer, she died peacefully on Dec. 8, 2021, at Missouri Slope Care Center surrounded by family.

A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22 at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck.

A time to visit with family and celebrate Margaret will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21 at Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck, with a Vigil/Prayer service beginning at 7 p.m.

She was raised and educated in Bismarck, attending Cathedral Grade School and graduating from St. Mary’s High School in 1962.   After high school, she attended Dickinson State College, earning a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education.  While there, she met Harold Hammeren and they were married and together had three daughters, Joan, Janelle and Fawn. They lived in Gustine, California, for a year before moving to Richardton, where they resided for nine years.  In 1975, the family moved to Bismarck, where Margaret began teaching at Jeanette Myhre Elementary School until she retired in 2000.  Margaret had an incredible gift for teaching.  She loved her students and left a lasting impact on many of them.  To this day, her daughters hear from her former students who tell them, “I loved your mom, Mrs. Hammeren, she was my favorite teacher.” 

Margaret was a very kind, fun-loving and selfless person.  She had a unique way of making everyone she met feel special and loved unconditionally.  Margaret had a beautiful smile, a contagious laugh, and she was never shy of starting up a conversation with anyone.  She had a witty sense of humor and always had funny stories to share with everyone she met.  One of the things she enjoyed most was spending time with friends, whether it was chatting on the phone, going out to eat, finding some good rummage sales, attending art and craft shows, or going on trips with her girlfriends.  Margaret had a crafty side as her home was filled with a collection of knickknacks.  Her home was always warm, cozy and inviting and her year-round seasonal decorations were always a special treat for the kids.

Her family meant everything to her. Margaret was her daughters’ biggest cheerleader while they competed in high school sports, always bringing extra food and blankets to share at their track and cross country meets.  She was the classic “nurturer”, not only taking care of her own children, but everyone around her.  Many of her daughters’ childhood friends visited Margaret throughout the years, always appreciative for her listening ear as she was a ‘second’ mom to many of them. Her grandkids also experienced this extraordinary love throughout the years and have many special memories, especially their regular trips to Medora with Grandma. In October, Margaret was thrilled to meet her new great granddaughter, Everleigh.          

Margaret lived at Edgewood Vista the past seven years with a short stay at Missouri Slope Care Center.  She was a social butterfly, making new friends almost every day.  She took in every activity she could and especially found delight in making crafts, playing bingo, cards, and dominos and listening to musicians who frequented Edgewood. Those who worked with her would always comment that she was the ‘sweetest’ lady.

Those most honored to share in her life: daughters, Joan (Dave) Knoll, Bismarck, Janelle Hammeren, Bismarck and Fawn Schirado, FL; grandchildren, Kendall Hammeren, Devin Schirado, Ben Schirado, Sierra Knoll and Chase Knoll; and great granddaughter, Everleigh (Ben); special relatives, Claudia Gordon and family; special friend, Nancy Bruns; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Pius and Ruth Hoffart.

Memorials are preferred to donor's choice.