Funeral services for Willa Kay Hamre, age 76, of Mobridge will be at 10:30 AM on Saturday, June 11, 2011 at Lakeside Bible Church in Mobridge. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be on Friday at the funeral home from 4 to 7 PM with the family present from 4-6. Willa Kay passed away Thursday, June 9, 2011 at Med Center One in Bismarck. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Mobridge Garden Club.

Willa "Kay" Hamre was born on April 4, 1935 to Charles and Edith (Scholl) Batson in Mobridge, SD. Willa Kay lived her entire life in the community that she loved, Mobridge, SD. Kay graduated from Mobridge High School working at Larsen Jewelry and then for Mobridge Lumberyard where she met Howard Hamre. Howard & Kay got married on November 14, 1953 at the Congregational Church in Yankton, SD. They made their home in Mobridge and raised five children and were married for 56 years until Howard's passing in January 2009.

While raising a family, Kay continued to work; as a bookkeeper for the Mobridge Livestock Auction, sales staff at JC Penney's and Sandvigs, and then the bookkeeper and office manager at Central Diesel until her retirement. After retirement, Kay would work in the restaurant at Mobridge Livestock Auction on sale day.

Kay remained actively involved in her church; teaching Sunday School and taking the family to Trinity Lutheran Church; and then being involved with Lakeside Bible Church for the past 25+ years. Kay also remained involved in her community with her volunteer work with; Garden Club, Red Hatters, Mobridge Historical Museum, Park Board, Painting Club, Sunday School and Cub Scouts for her boys as they were growing up. Kay participated in the weekly sing along at the Mobridge Assisted Living Center.

Kay loved her family, church and immediate family. She loved her Sunday School kids and would bring goodies for them; she loved little Tiegen who she babysat during the week. She loved her family and would garden and supply can goods for all her children. Kay lived a life of self sacrifice and generosity, willing to share with her family and friends all that she had.

Mom loved the Lord, Jesus Christ, and placed her life in His care as she proceeded through treatment for lung and bone cancer. Mom told her family and friends that she was ready to go be with the Lord if it was her time. Mom passed from this life into the best while at Med Center One in Bismarck in the care of a staff that treated her with kindness and gentleness.

Kay is survived by her children; Curtis and wife Lucinda of Mayville, ND, Scott and fiancé Kimberly Berndt of Mobridge, Craig and wife Lisa of Oxford, NE, Crystal and fiancé Jason Rusch of Bismarck, ND; Julie and husband David DeNell of Kimberly, WI, 15 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren with the third on the way. Also surviving Kay are brother; Eugene Batson of Mulino, OR, sisters; Virginia Thorsen of Roswell, NM, Loraine Trim of Denver, CO, and Janice Hoff of Mobridge, SD.

She was preceded in death by her husband Howard, her parents and two brothers Lyle and Donnie.