Dott "Dorothy" Hammer went home to be with the Lord on Jan 08, 2010 at her son's home in Valdosta, GA.


DOTT KATHERINE CARMICHAEL "Dorothy" was born on August 1, 1917 in Beulah, ND to James and Mary (Taylor) Carmichael of Lemmon, SD. Dorothy moved with her parents to South Dakota at the age of 9. They lived on a ranch north of Faith, SD where she finished grade school in rural schools. Following her schooling, she worked on area ranches where ever needed doing house work and caring for small children.


She was united in marriage to Ove Hammer on December 27, 1935 at Bison, SD. They lived in Lemmon for several years and in 1938, they lost their son, Orville, who was 2 years old. Dorothy often said if it hadn't been for the Lord giving her strength, she would have never survived due to the loss of her son and her mother in less than 3 weeks.


Dorothy and Ove worked on dairy farms in South Dakota and while working on one near Rapid City, Dorothy took a job at St. John's Hospital. When Rapid City Regional Hospital opened, she went to work there and retired from Rapid City Regional Hospital Dietary Department where she was awarded hospital employee of the year.


Her husband Ove passed away on July 7, 1995. Dorothy was able to live in her own home in Rapid City until about 2 years after Ove passed away, when she moved into an apartment. In June of 2006, due to her failing health, she moved from Rapid City to Valdosta, GA where she lived with her son and daughter-in-law. When anyone would ask Dorothy how she was getting along she always said, "Oh there is so much love shown here and the care is excellent".


She is survived by her two sons and daughters-in-law, Merlyn & Prasai Hammer of Valdosta, GA, and David & Diane Hammer of Kalispell, MT; granddaughter, Vicki Wood, Augusta, GA, and Dorothy's great grandchildren, Ireland and Kobe; and grandson, Michael Hammer, Jacksonville, FL, and Dorothy's great grandchildren, Caitlyn, Chloe, and Camryn; sisters, Garnet Gaaskjolen, Faith, SD, Ellen Gaaskjolen, Rapid City, SD, and sisters-in-law, Esther Carmichael, Lemmon, SD, and Aldene Carmichael, Faith, SD. Special thanks to the many nieces, nephews, and friends in Western South Dakota for their show of support.


Dorothy was preceded by her parents, her husband, Ove Hammer, infant son Orville, and 4 brothers, Pete, Edwin, Vern, and Glen Carmichael.


Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm MT Saturday, January 16, 2010 at the Prince of Peace Chapel of the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon, SD. Rev. Gary Johnson from Dove Christian Center in Rapid City, SD will officiate with burial in Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon.


Serving as casketbearers are Les Lensegrav, Keith Gaaskjolen, Bruce Gotfredson, Vaughn Meyer, Ross Olson and Arlen Carmichael.


Visitation will be 10:00 to 2:00 pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.