Emma Hammer, age 91, of Park River, North Dakota, formerly Ulen, Minnesota, died Wednesday, January 28, 2009, in the Good Samaritan Center there.

Emma L. Larson was born June 16, 1917, the daughter of Louis and Ella (Askelson) Larson near Borup, Minnesota, where she was raised and attended school. As a young woman, Emma helped with the daily operations on the family farm. On June 22, 1940, Emma was united in marriage to Clifford Hammer in Borup. The couple made their home southwest of Ulen where the raised their two children, Gloria and Dennis. In the late 50's and early 60's, Emma worked at the Ulen School as a cook. In 1962, they moved into Ulen where Emma operated the café for many years. Emma was also employed by the Viking Manor Nursing Home in Ulen as a nurse's aide and later as a nurse's aide at the Twin Valley Nursing Home. In her later years, Emma worked at Carl's Lefse in Hawley, Minnesota. After Clifford's death in December of 1989, Emma moved to Hawley for the next six years continuing to work at Carl's Lefse. In the mid 1990's, Emma moved to Edinburg, North Dakota, to be near her son, living there for a few years before making her home in the Good Samaritan Center in Park River in 2002. She has lived there since.

Emma always had beautiful flowers and a big vegetable garden. She also enjoyed bowling and baking, especially lefse and other Norwegian goodies, cookies and pastries. She was an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and a member of the Ladies VFW Auxiliary in Ulen. Emma enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, but she truly treasured the time she spent with her grandchildren.

Emma is survived by her and daughter, Gloria (Dale) Cleveland of Sioux Falls, SD and her son, Dennis (Beverly) Hammer of Edinburg, ND; two sisters, Oreal Tweiten of Fargo, ND and Teresa Fevig of Moorhead, MN; eight grandchildren, Lee (Susan) Cleveland, Debra (Kyle) Fickler, Dee Dee (David) Olson, Danette (Tracy) Raph, Dawn Hammer (Mike Chadwick) and step-grandchildren, Jeremy Gutterud, Jodi Gutterud (Brent Thompson) and Julie (Kelly) Bossert; 14 great-grandchildren, Darin Cleveland, Erica Cleveland, Danika Fickler, Alisha Olson, Ashley Olson, Sarah Olson, Shawn Olson, Samantha Raph, Henry Raph and Brady Raph; step-great grandchildren, Zachary Gutterud, Grace Gutterud, Ryder Thompson and Karter Bossert.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, two sisters, Junice and Susie, and three brothers, Norman, Ervin and Earl.

Funeral Services was held on Monday, February 2nd, 2009, at 11:00 AM in Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Ulen. Officiating was Pastor Rolf Aanestad with Carol Lockhart serving as organist and Steve Lunde serving as vocalist. Pallbearers was her grandchildren, Lee Cleveland, Debra Fickler, Dee Dee Olson, Danette Raph, Dawn Hammer, and step-grandchildren, Jeremy Gutterud, Jodi Gutterud and Julie Bossert.

Interment was in the Bethlehem Lutheran North Cemetery, Ulen.