Irene J. Hamilton, 76, Dickinson, died Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Irene’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Monday, November 28, 2011 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Fr. Patrick Schumacher as the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday at Ladbury Funeral Service, with a rosary & vigil at 4 p.m., with Deacon Gene Morman presiding.
Irene Kuntz was born November 21, 1935 at Richardton, the daughter of John N. and Helen (Wanner) Kuntz. She was raised north of Gladstone in the community of Rock Springs on the Knife River. She attended the Bailey Country School and graduated from Dickinson High School.
Irene married Fred Keller in September 1954 at Halliday. They resided in Fargo and St. Paul, Minn., later returning to Dickinson. She first went to work for Britton Jewelers and as a bookkeeper for the North Dakota Stockman’s Assoc. and Hugh Larson Construction. Irene was united in marriage to Neil Hamilton on June 8, 1973, in Beach. Irene went to work for Western Livestock as bookkeeper, clerk and eventually as office manager and shareholder, retiring in the early 1990’s.
She was an active volunteer for St. Wenceslaus Church and St. Benedict’s Health Center. She was for several years an active member of the North Dakota Cattlewomen’s Assoc., and had also belonged to the Elks and the St. Ann’s Altar Society. Irene enjoyed sewing, working in the garden, doing crafts, canning, cooking and baking.
Irene is survived by two children, Michelle (Joe) Lissolo, Minatare, Neb., and John (Laureen) Keller, Killdeer; four grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Pauline (Tex) Appledoorn, Gladstone. She was preceded in death by her husband, Neil in January 1994, and her parents.
