Mary Hodgins, 96, formerly of Hannah, ND, passed away Wednesday December 20, 2006 at the Good Samaritan Center of Osnabrock, ND.
Mary Leona Nickerson was born December 3, 1910 in Kenny, IL to James and Rachel Alma (Stiles) Nickerson. She came to Hannah with her family in March of 1916. Mary attended the McLean and Balfour one-room schools and then the consolidated school in Byron Township which was built in 1924. She also attended school in the town of Hannah. Mary became a 4-H leader at the age of 16 and continued for eight years. Mary and Dale Hodgins were united in marriage on June 10, 1931. The lived on the Balfour, McPhail and Nickerson farms before buying the Eli Shaver farm four miles west of Hannah in 1944. Both Dale and Mary were active in the community. Mary served on church, school and township boards, was a Sunday School teacher, a member of the Order of the Eastern Star since 1959, Worthy Matron of the O.E.S, Mother Advisor of the Rainbow for Girls and received the Grand Cross of Colors from the O.E.S. In November of 1930, Mary became a member of the Byron Successful Homemakers and later joined the Langdon Friendship Club. She was honored by the Cavalier County homemakers for sixty years of continuous membership. Dale passed away December 17, 1961. After Dale’s death, Mary enrolled in Aaker’s business school in Grand Forks for a degree in Clerk-Typist. She completed the nine-month course in seven months. In 1965 she moved to Langdon and began working for Beiers Heating and Appliances. Later she was hired as secretary for the Farmers Union Insurance Agency and continued there until her retirement in 1975. In 1970 she studied and took the insurance agent’s exam. Mary was the first woman in North Dakota to have an agent’s license from Farmers Union Insurance.
In 1986 the Langdon Chapter of the AAUW chose Mary as their Woman of the Year. She was first runner-up for Barley Queen in 1985. Mary was a member of the Maple Manor Nursing Home Auxiliary since 1972 and an Ombudsman at the nursing home since 1980. She was a member of the Langdon Senior Citizen’s Club and was active in the United Methodist Women and Circle programs at both Hannah and Langdon. In 1982 Mary joined the United Methodist Clowns for Christ and enjoyed entertaining and bringing laughter to nursing homes, hospitals, senior citizens, story hours and many community events along with other members of the group. As Mummsy the Clown, Mary attended training schools on clowning in Delaven, WI and Minot, ND. In 1994 she attended Clown Camp at LaCrosse, WI. In retirement Mary continued to be involved in her church and community. She traveled extensively, collected dolls and bells which brought her much pleasure as did a course she took on Native Americans, a night school course on the German language, and a week at the Music Camp at the Peace Gardens learning about Hand Bells.
Mary is survived by her sons: Gail (Pat) Hodgins of Hannah, ND; and Lynn (Gwen) Hodgins of Devils Lake, ND, grandchildren: Carla Haaven; Stephanie (Vince) Hodgins-Lentz ; Allison (Jefferson) Bey; Amy (Curt) Kram; Matthew (Cami) Hodgins; Amanda (Daniel) Iszler, and nine great-grandchildren.
SERVICES Friday December 22, 2006 at the United Methodist church of Langdon at 2:00 pm
INTERMENT Hannah Cemetery, Hannah, ND
