Mavis Hamre

Mavis S. Hamre, former Willow Lake and Clark music teacher and choir director, died January 3, 2010 in Arizona, where she had been living since 1985. She remained active in church, music, and civic activities until her sudden death. UPDATE Memorial Services will be held on Sunday May 30, 2010 at 1:30 PM at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Clark with burial in the Pleasant Lutheran Cemetery near Vienna. The Reverend Robin Schaunaman will officiate. Mavis was born to Rev. Christian and Josephine Hanson on November 22, 1922 near Baltic, South Dakota. She married Norman Hamre on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1945 at Pleasant Lutheran Church near Willow Lake, SD. They had a daughter, Betty Lou, who died in infancy in 1955. Norman and Mavis were married for 57 years until his death on December 27, 2002. Mavis graduated from high school at Augustana Academy in Canton, SD in 1940. In 2002, she received their annual Alumni Achievement award. She received her state certification in elementary education from Augustana College in Sioux Falls in 1942. Mavis received her B.S. in Music and Elementary Education from Northern State College in Aberdeen in 1960 and she earned her masters degree in music education at the University of Colorado in Boulder in 1969. Mavis was a music educator in Willow Lake, Clark, and Rapid City schools in South Dakota. She joined the music education faculty at Northern State University in 1969 and retired in 1985. Mavis received the Outstanding Teacher Award at Northern in 1977. Highly respected as an educator and music professional, she was designated Associate Professor of Music Emeritus in 1991. She was a long-time editor of the South Dakota Musician Educators magazine, she recently received a 50-year pin commemorating her years of membership in the National Association for Music Education and was a 50 year member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Involved with church music throughout her life, Mavis directed adult and youth choirs at St. Pauls Lutheran Church while in Clark and at South Canyon Lutheran Church when she lived in Rapid City. She led the Senior Choir and Childrens Music ministry at Bethlehem Lutheran Church while she lived in Aberdeen. Mavis and Norman moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1985 and joined St. Peter Lutheran Church. Mavis was involved with Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, and the Fellowship, Music and Worship, and the Building Committees. She served as Winter Choir Director, Volunteer Coordinator, Elder, and Council President. Mavis also directed the choir at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mesa when that church was established. Mavis started the Grand Canyon Synod Lutheran Seniors Assembly Rally in the Valley. She served on the Synod Board of Congregational Ministries, the Candidacy Committee, and the Discipline Committee. She also served on the Committee for Sacramental Practices Statement for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. When Mavis and Norman moved to Arizona, they lived in Leisure World. While there, her many activities included directing the Leisure World Chorus. Mavis was an active member of the Sons of Norway. She moved to Friendship Village in Tempe in 2007 and was involved with their Resident Council. Mavis is survived by her sister Clarice, brother-in-law Rev. Lyle Inglebret of Sioux Falls, SD, brother-in-law Melvin Hamre of Clark, SD, nieces, nephews, cousins, and a multitude of friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Norman, their infant daughter Betty Lou, her parents, Rev. Christian and Josephine Hanson, and stepmothers Annette and Ruby. The Mavis Hamre Memorial Fund has been established at St. Peter Lutheran Church (1844 E. Dana Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85204) for memorials in her honor. Arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home of Clark serving the family. There is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com.