Alice Hamman

Visitation: Monday, January 12 at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Circle starting at 5:00 p.m. with an Eastern Star Service starting at 7:00 p.m. open to the public

Funeral Service: Tuesday, January 13, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at First Lutheran Church with cremation to follow

Inurnment: A graveside inurnment is planned for in the spring.

Alice Ellen Murphy Hamman died on January 9, 2009 at the McCone County Health Center in Circle, Montana surrounded by her husband and three children.

Alice was born to Archy & Gladys (Peterson) Murphy on August 15, 1928 at Glendive, Montana. She grew up on the family ranch west of Circle. As a child she attended Stoney Butte country school and graduated from Circle High School in 1946. She then attended college in Billings at Eastern Montana College and graduated from the 2 year Education Program in 1948. Alice then returned to Circle to teach, but later returned to EMC and earned a BA in Education.

She married Rolland (Red) Arthur Hamman on December 22, 1949 in the First Lutheran Church of Circle, the church of her baptism and confirmation. Three children were born to the union, Paula Lynn in 1951, Rodd Arthur in 1953, Ryan Murphy in 1957. Red and Alice had their 59th wedding anniversary shortly before her death.Alice then returned to teaching at several country schools and Circle Elementary Schools. She retired after teaching 30 years. After retirement Alice made up for lost time in church activities and took up a new sport of golf and kept on with her bowling and bridge until her osteoporosis no longer allowed her to participate in golf and bowling.

Alice was a lifelong member of the First Lutheran Church of Circle, WELCA, Circle Chapter # 125 Order of Eastern Star, and Ladies Auxiliary VFW # 4813.

Alice is survived by her husband Rolland Red, children Paula (Perry) Kuntz, of Circle, Rodd (Robin Wolff) Hamman, of Billings, and Ryan (Colleen) Hamman of Billings, six grandchildren and two great granddaughters, Trenton TJ Kuntz and his daughter Serenity of Sidney, Tyler (Penny) Kuntz and daughter Catalena of Billings, Alex Hamman of Billings, Keyleigh, Jared and Trevor Hamman of Billings. She is also survived by her brother, Gerald (Rae) Murphy of Circle, brother-in-law, Eugene Close of Devils Lake, ND, sister-in-law Dianne (Clinton) Weisz, of Cando, ND and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents, Gladys and Archy Murphy and niece Kimberely Close.

Alice was very proud of her Irish heritage and loved Irish music and dancing. She loved reading and passed that gift to her children by numerous trips to the library. Alice supported her children and grandchildren and spent countless hours in the gym watching cheerleading, basketball and wrestling. Alice was a teacher to her core. In addition to teaching hundreds of elementary students over the years, Alices children and grandchildren were repeatedly reminded of the rules of grammar. It was may I, not can I and surely, not sure. And if you wanted Alices immediate attention, all you had to do was mention the word aint. Everyone repeat after me: Aint is not a word.
Thank you for all the lessons, great and small.

Visitation will be Monday, January 12 at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Circle starting at 5:00 p.m. with an Eastern Star Service starting at 7:00 p.m. open to the public. Her funeral service will be Tuesday, January 13, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at First Lutheran Church with cremation to follow. A graveside inurnment is planned for in the spring.