Gail S. Hamman

Gail Suzanne Hamman, 85, of Aberdeen, SD died Saturday, December 18, 2021 from complications of dementia at Primrose Cottages in Aberdeen. Memorial services will be held in the spring of 2022.

Gail Suzanne Thoreen was born in Alexandria, MN, on April 20, 1936, to Glenn and Margaret (Evenson) Thoreen.  She was the oldest of 5 children.  She grew up in several communities in MN; Alexandria, Albert Lea, Rochester, Ortonville and also New Richmond, WI.  She graduated from high school in Ortonville, MN. In 1955, she married Harvey J Hamman who was from Milbank, SD.  They moved to Webster, SD after Harvey graduated from SDSU in 1955.  Their daughters, Suzanne Faye and Barbara Jo were born here.  She wound up moving to several SD communities due to Harvey's job at Farmers Home Administration.  Those cities included Aberdeen, Leola, Sturgis, Madison, Wentworth, Gettysburg and Vermillion.   After Harvey died in Vermillion in 1998, Gail moved back to Madison. In 2018, Gail moved to Primrose Cottages in Aberdeen to be near family.

Gail was an accomplished pianist in her youth.  This led her to play organ and piano for many churches where she lived.  She had also learned to play the recorder and harmonica as she got older.  While in Madison, she was a member of the Harmonikats who played for many surrounding long term care or senior center facilities.   She was talented with sewing, crocheting, quilting, knitting ,embroidering and tatting. Gail was a member of the Wentworth Legion Auxiliary for many years.  She had worked at the Soil Conservation office and Dept. of Graduate Nursing school at USD in Vermillion.  Ben Franklin in Madison was one of her favorite places to work.  While in Aberdeen in the 60's-70's she worked at Alexander Mitchell Library.

Gail enjoyed 41 years of sobriety with the love and support of her husband, daughters, siblings and many friends of AA from many of the communities where she lived.  
Her family gives great praise and thanks for the love, support and compassionate services provided by Primrose Cottages and Avera @ Home staff in Aberdeen.  Gail's family asks that memorials be given to a local AA chapter,  a local Legion Auxiliary or the charity of your choosing. 

Gail is survived by her daughters Suzanne (Mark) Lees, Fairmont, MN; Barb (Lance) Koch of Aberdeen. Siblings Glenna Langley of Silver Springs, MD, and her daughter Dancia Langley; John (Bonnie) Thoreen St. Helena, CA, and their 2 sons, Bo and Peder John; Jim (Bonnie) Thoreen of Glenwood, MN, and their 3 sons, Mathew, Tim and Mark; Tom Thoreen of Shelton, WA; niece Stacey (Brett) Gavin and nephew Scott (Christine) Gavin of Beresford, and her brother-in-law Jerry Gavin of Sioux Falls.  

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey; parents Glen and Margaret Thoreen; in-laws Elmer "Dutch" and Dena Hamman of Milbank; sister-in-law Deanna Gavin of Pierre, and niece Taichee Langley of Olney, MD.
 

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