Dionne Ammerman passed away on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at Sanford Hospital in Bismarck, ND from complications of pneumonia and severe infection of the mediastinum.
The memorial service for Dionne will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, with Reverend Darrel Corey officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. She will be buried at a later date at Malung Cemetery near Roseau.
Dionne Leigh Ammerman was born December 30, 1972 in Honolulu, HI daughter of Rocky and Barb (Norquist) Ammerman. The family moved from Hawaii to Bemidji, and in 1979 to Thief River Falls. She attended Knox Elementary, Franklin Middle School and graduated from Lincoln High School in1991.
Upon graduation Dionne moved to New Jersey, where she was a nanny for two years. She returned to Thief River Falls and attended Northland Community and Technical College and received her LPN degree in 1997. She moved to Bemidji and then to Eagan. Dionne worked for the United Hospital in St. Paul in the Neurology and Epilepsy Unit. During that time, she also went back to school and gained her RN degree in 2004. She also earned a Forensic Nurse Certification from Kaplan University On-Line in 2006.
In 2005, the United Hospital nurses went on strike, so Dionne started working at the Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina in the Surgical Specialists Unit until 2006. Also, during her time in the Twin Cities (2003 to 2004) she would travel to Mankato to provide home care for an 18-year-old severely disabled girl and would assist at the Mendota High School as a health assistant for severely disabled children. During 2001 thru 2005, she would spend one week a summer as a camp nurse for the Epilepsy Foundation at Camp Ihduhapi-Camp Oz in Loretto.
In 2006, Dionne made the decision to become a traveling nurse. She traveled both to Arizona and California, making sure she could take her beloved dog and companion, Bogart Remington, with her. By the end of the year, she decided that wasn’t for her and she returned to Fargo, ND, and started working at MeritCare Hospital in the Orthopedics/Neurology Unit. In 2008, she moved to Bismarck, ND, and worked for Sanford Hospital for 11 years and was currently employed at Augusta Place Nursing Home.
Dionne was an avid crafter, enjoyed woodworking and painting, and spending time with Savannah Stickland and her nieces, Alexa, Haylie and Carlie Rogalla.
Dionne is survived by her parents Rocky and Barb Ammerman; sister Leslie (Carter) Rogalla of Thief River Falls; three nieces: Alexa, Haylie and Carlie Rogalla; aunts and uncles: Sharon (Brian) Pelowski of Roseau, Bev (Dave) Thompson of Thief River Falls, Doug (Holly) Ammerman of Hinckley, Rhonda (George) Biermaier of Roseau, and Chip (Kristi) Ammerman of Moorhead; special friend and caregiver Rachel Stickland of Bismarck, ND, and Rachel’s daughters Savannah and HarLeigh; along with several cousins.
Dionne is preceded in death by her grandparents Rod and Doris Norquist and Forrest and LaVonne Ammerman.