Caroline R. May, 63, Dickinson, died on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at Missouri Slope-Washington, Bismarck of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Caroline’s Liturgy of Word will be at 1:30 p.m., Monday, August 4, 2025 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with Deacon Robert Bohn presiding. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Richardton. Visitation will begin at 12 p.m. and continue until the time of service.
Caroline Rose Hartman was born on June 23, 1962 in Dickinson, ND to Roy and Cleta (Bernhardt) Hartman. Caroline grew up in North Dakota and Montana, graduating from Dawson County High School in Glendive, Montana in 1980. She attended college at the University of Mary before deciding to enter the work world. In 1987, she moved to Virginia, where she met and married Gary May. Caroline worked for several organizations, including as a secretary in the Pentagon, and as a project coordinator for Grumley Construction. Caroline’s easy-going personality allowed her to thoroughly enjoy different kinds of jobs with a diverse array of people. Her favorite pastimes included crochet, reading, baking and cooking, and spending time with dear friends at the Moose Lodge in Leesburg, VA.
Caroline and Gary divorced in 2003. She decided to move to North Dakota in 2011 because both parents were ailing and she wanted to help them. She held several jobs, including as an assistant manager at a clothing store. Her favorite job became working at Centennial Homes in Dickinson. Unfortunately, by 2019, it was evident that Caroline was having issues performing her tasks at work. After more than 18 months seeing various specialists, Caroline received a diagnosis of early-onset dementia. As with most people with early-onset dementia, Caroline’s decline was swift and brutal, taking away both her mental and physical capabilities. She moved to Evergreen Assisted Living in January 2022 and was transferred to Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in March 2024, when she started to need full-time care. Caroline always wanted to help others, and she was devastated to know that she needed assistance for daily functioning.
Caroline is survived by six siblings: Cleta (Ray) Raymond of Virginia, Margaret Dykstra (Tim Bergquist) of Bismarck, Tom (Allyson) Hartman of Alabama, Veronica (Mike) Scales of New Mexico, Tim (DeeDee) Hartman of Alabama, and Jim (La Don) Hartman of Mandan, her sister-in-law Sandie and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her older brother, John.
