Luella Hawley

   Luella E. Hawley, 89, West Fargo, ND passed away on Sunday, May 16, 2021 at Sheyenne Crossings, West Fargo, ND.

   Luella Elizabeth Hofmann was born July 7, 1931. She grew up in Medina, ND with her loving parents Philip and Pauline Graf Hofmann.

   Luella always had a desire to teach. After she graduated from Medina High School, she enrolled in Valley City Teacher’s College and attained an Associate Degree in Elementary Education. Her first teaching assignment was in Page, ND where she not only taught but also caught the eye of Donald Hawley from Hope, ND.

   Luella and Don were united in marriage on June 14, 1953 in Medina, ND and made their home in Hope, ND. She became the piano teacher to a multitude of students and when Hope Public School District decided to start a kindergarten program, Luella was hired to become the teacher for that program. Her family would always tease her that she was just the right size for the job being of petite stature. But what Luella lacked in height she made up for in passion and zeal and joy and love for her students.

   In October of 1965 the Hawley family, which had grown to encompass three sons, moved to West Fargo, ND. Luella again started teaching piano lessons to hundreds of students. When a kindergarten teaching position opened up at the Presbyterian Church, Luella applied and her career of excellence for the youngest students in West Fargo began. At that point in time the kindergarten programs were run through the churches but when West Fargo School District decided to incorporate Kindergarten into the school system, they offered positions to each of the church school teachers. Luella was hired with the understanding that she would have to update her degree to a Bachelor’s status. So while she was teaching she was also a student and obtained her Early Elementary BS in 1975 from Moorhead State.

   Luella continued to teach both kindergarten and piano until her retirement after 30 years. Her comment was that she felt lost in August as her life had been putting up bulletin boards the month before school started. But she was always busy doing all the other things in her life. She certainly had the gift of hospitality and enjoyed having friends and acquaintances in her home. And boy could she lay out a spread!!

   She was a faithful member of the American Legion Auxiliary of Hope for 60 years, Faith Lutheran Church and Dorcas Circle of West Fargo for as long as she lived in West Fargo, Amita Club of West Fargo, the West Fargo Hobby Club in which she was able to learn not only many new skills but also share her skills and love of quilting, embroidery, knitting and card making. Luella even carried her love for crafting to the Red River Valley Fair where she helped organize the crafting sections for many years.

   Luella was preceded in death by her parents, Phil and Pauline Hofmann, her in-laws Cassius and Margaret Hawley and her husband, Donald Cassius Hawley.

   Luella leaves behind three sons, Kevin (Alice); Kirk (Julie); and Kory (Rhonda). All the sons live in either West Fargo or Fargo so were able to spend precious time with Luella prior to her passing. Luella also has 8 grandchildren – Katelyn (Jake) Anderson, Michael (Jasmine) Hawley, Christina Hawley, Kayla (Lucas) Geyer, Amanda (Jeremy) Leichtenberg, Shannon (Jeff) Betz, River Hawley and Brooke Hawley. The story continues with 7 great-grandchildren – Cassius and Colt Anderson; Nathan Hawley; Emma, Ashlyn and Mackenzie Leichtenberg; and Colton Betz. We are excited because Luella will also get to know two new precious great-grandsons before anyone else – one due in June and another in August.

   Visitation will take place at 10:30am at West Funeral Home in West Fargo on Friday, May 21, 2021 with the funeral to follow at 11:30am. Graveside interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery.

   Memorials can be sent to the Fargo Retired Teachers in care of Verna LaBounty - Treasurer, 4750 Clocktower Lane S, Fargo, ND 58104 - Re: Scholarship Fund/Luella Hawley. Or to the Piecemakers Quilting Group of Faith Lutheran Church, West Fargo, ND.

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