Kay Hemminger

Mavis Kay Hemminger, “Kay”, 78, passed away Tuesday, May 28, 2019, in Havre.

Visitation will be Wednesday, June 5, from 5 to 7pm at Rockman Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be Thursday, June 6, at 10AM at the Chester Assembly of God Church.

Kay was born March 17, 1941 in Devil’s Lake, ND, one of eight children to Herbert Engberg and Gladys Flatten.  She grew-up and attended school in Crosby, ND and later in Long Beach, CA.  Kay was raised by her father and step- mother, Ruby (Madsen) Engberg.  At the age of 14, Kay quit school to babysit her younger siblings.  She moved to Helena and worked at St. Peter’s Hospital and local sawmill.  That is where she met Sam.  She married Samuel James Hemminger on September 30, 1966 in Lewiston, ID.  Sam was a logger and they traveled a lot for his work.  During her adult life Kay has lived in Helena, French Town, Turner, Clancy, Toston, Gildford, Chester, and finally, Havre.

Kay enjoyed cooking, walking, baking, collecting coffee mugs, “Tweety Bird” memorabilia, and writing letters.  She baked bread, cinnamon rolls, and maple sticks. All her recipes were in her head, she did not need a cookbook.  Kay was a football fan, especially the Montana Grizzlies and Dallas Cowboys.

Survivors include sons, Thomas of Omaha, NE and John (Missy) of Havre; daughter, Brenda Deffinbaugh of Chester; grandchildren, Sam, Ryan, Rebecca (Tyler), and KasSandra; 8 great grandchildren; brothers, Jerry of Crosby, ND, Duane Walsh of Georgetown, TX, Rocky of Houston, TX, and Randy of Grand Prairie; sisters, Gloria McKamey of Euless, TX, LuAnn Blocher of Omaha, NE, and Debbie Joraanstad of Baton Rouge, LA.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Sam, in 1986; father, mother, and stepmother.