ELLA HAMMOND obituary

MALTA - Ella Dees Hammond, 86, of Malta died Saturday, March 26, 2005, with her family by her side.

A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at the Malta Lutheran Church with burial in the Malta Cemetery.

Survivors include her

sons, Mike (Debbie) Hammond and Howard (JoAnn) Hammond, both of Whitewater; daughter, Patty (Steve) Young of Whitewater; 10 grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Sanda; brothers, Alvin (Evelyn) Dees, Richard Dees, Don (Rita) Dees, Norman (Mary) Dees; brothers-in-law, Milton (Marjorie) Olsen, R.A. (Cathy) Olsen; sister-in-law, Beverly Haugen; and numerous nieces and nephews, including her dear niece and friend Nancy Olsen.

Ella was born Feb. 14, 1919, on her family farm near Kremlin to Andrew and Dorthea Dees. She attended school in Kremlin and Havre and graduated from Havre

High School in 1936. She then attended Kinnman Business College and in 1939, she graduated and went to work for Buttrey Department Store in Havre.

On Dec. 28, 1941 she married Howard "Swede" Hammond and they established their first home in Kremlin. In 1942, Howard joined the Army Air Corps and Ella traveled with him until he went over seas. Their travels and jobs took them to many states in the United States.

In 1952, they moved to Big Sandy, where they made their home for 27 years. Ella and Howard also farmed and ranched north of Whitewater, spending their summers working on the farm. Upon retirement in 1979, they moved to Malta to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

While in Big Sandy, Ella was active in many church and community organizations including Eastern Star, American Legion Auxiliary and Lutheran Ladies Circle. She also enjoyed bridge club and was a very talented seamstress. However, her family was always her first priority.

Ella's greatest joy of life was the time she spent loving and caring for her family.

Ella was preceded in death by her husband, Howard "Swede" Hammond on Oct. 22, 2001; parents, Andrew and Dorthea Dees; and brothers, Morris Dees and Arnold Dees.

Survivors include her sons, Mike (Debbie) Hammond and Howard (JoAnn) Hammond, both of Whitewater; daughter, Patty (Steve) Young of Whitewater; 10 grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Sanda; brothers, Alvin (Evelyn) Dees, Richard Dees, Don (Rita) Dees and Norman (Mary) Dees; brothers-in-law, Milton (Marjorie) Olsen and R.A. (Cathy) Olsen; sister-in-law, Beverly Haugen; and numerous nieces and nephews, including her dear niece and friend Nancy Olsen.

Adams Funeral Home of Malta is in charge of arrangements.