Thief River Falls – Gary Hamness, 80, passed away peacefully at Sanford Medical Center on December 30, 2023.
Gary Wayne Hamness was born on September 5, 1943, in Dodge City, Kansas, the only child to Nels and Evelyn (Erickson) Hamness. Raised in Strathcona, on the family farm of Ralph and Nannie Hamness and attending school in Greenbush while his father was in the Army and Navy. He lived in and attended school in Moorhead, Minot, ND, and Seattle, WA. Finally graduating from Greenbush High School on May 31, 1961. He wrestled his senior year and was considered a brain and a rebel by his classmates.
After graduating high school, Gary moved to the Twin Cities with his parents. He attended the University of Minnesota for a short time. On May 5, 1962, Gary met his soon-to-be wife, Carolyn, when he called upstairs to her apartment to tell her to turn the music up so that he could hear it. Instead, she invited him up to listen to it. On December 21, 1962, they announced their engagement. They were wed on February 29, 1964, at Faith Lutheran Church in Hannaford, ND.
In December of 1964, they had their first daughter, Janelle, in St. Paul. Their son Jeffrey was born in October of 1967, in St. Paul. Their second daughter, Jarilyn, was born in January of 1972, in Thief River Falls.
Gary and Carolyn lived in Woodbury until 1969 when they moved to Thief River Falls.
Gary was active in bowling leagues, the Minnesota Jaycees, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, The Sons of the American Legion, The Sons of Norway, and in Trinity Lutheran Church. He served as the Vice President of the Jaycees from 1977-1978 and received the Minnesota Jaycee Statesman Award on March 28, 1981. Gary loved fishing, playing games, doing jigsaw puzzles, and spending time with family and friends.
Gary drove semi-truck for many years and worked at Arctic Cat and North Star Transportation as a traffic manager. He retired from Arctic Cat in 2006.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Nels and Evelyn Hamness; and stepbrother, Arlyn Nelson. He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Carolyn; his children, Janelle (Tony), Jeff, and Jarilyn (Jason); and “adopted” grandchildren, Preston (Megan) Anderson and Miranda Anderson.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, with Rev. Terri Cuppett officiating. Visitation was held from 3–6 p.m. with a prayer service at 5 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls. Visitation was also held one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Saturday. The burial took place at Greenwood Cemetery, Strathcona.
Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com.
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