Mildred Lillian Hamm

Mildred Lillian Loewen was born in Altona, Manitoba, Canada, on March 14, 1929. She was the youngest child of David and Aganeta (Teichroew) Loewen.

Times were difficult for the family, with five children; Mildred, her three brothers, Donald, Darcy, and George, and her only sister, Hedy.

David was a carpenter by trade and also a preacher. He bought a farm in Gretna, Manitoba, but during the Great Depression, he could no longer make the payments and had to sell it. Mildred was six years old at the time. That same year, within three weeks, Mildred’s mother, Aganeta, and two of her grandparents passed into heaven. The family moved into her grandfather’s home in Altona to care for him. They needed a place to live, and because he was unwell, he was grateful for their help. Mildred began third grade while the family lived with him. After several more moves, she attended ninth grade in Toronto, Ontario, and returned to Altona for tenth grade.

When her parents felt called to serve as missionaries in Mexico, they sold everything they had and left. During that time, they arranged for Mildred to attend a private school in Canada, where she lived in a small dormitory. There, she tried her hand at cooking—a new experience—without much success.

When Mildred’s parents returned from Mexico, she took a job as a one-room schoolteacher in East Braintree for the 1946 and 1947 school years, allowing her parents to live there with her. She earned $70 a month. Her responsibilities included teaching, caring for children when they were ill, supervising playground activities, and keeping the building warm and clean. When the soles of her shoes wore through, she had to spend more than a month’s wages on a pair of sturdy leather shoes that would last through the winter.

During twelfth grade, Mildred lived in the large dormitory at Mennonite Brethren Bible College. She continued her voice and piano training and, as an excellent pianist and sight-reader, accompanied the school choir. It was there that she met Jake Hamm. Because they were both part of the college’s music program, they had much in common.

The following year, Mildred lived with her parents off campus, making it possible for Jake to visit her at home during the week—something that would not have been permitted on campus. From 1948 to 1951, her days were filled with work, school assignments, and earning her voice-teaching degree. Mildred also worked for a year and took private voice and piano lessons, earning first-class honors on her vocal examination.

On August 18, 1951, Mildred Loewen and Jacob Hamm were married and moved to Windsor, Ontario.

When their first son, Donald, was born in June, Mildred went to Leamington, Ontario, to be with family and avoid the higher cost of an American hospital.

The family moved to Arkansas for two years while Jake attended and graduated from John Brown University. During that time, Mildred worked at the university, rising at 4:30 each morning to help prepare breakfast. She then hurried home to care for Don as Jake left for class.

They next moved to Rochester, New York, for a year while Jake continued his education. Mildred worked in a nursing home to earn extra income. The family then spent six months in Kitchener, Ontario. Mildred and Don later went to Leamington, where their second son, Bob, was born in August 1955.

The Hamm family moved to Reedley, California, where a grapefruit tree, an apricot tree, and a walnut tree grew in their yard. Mildred did a great deal of canning. Their son Loren was born in Reedley in March 1961.

Jake taught at Immanuel Academy, where members of the teaching staff took turns hosting one another for dinner each month. The family formed lifelong friendships there. Mildred also accompanied the private voice lessons Jake taught in their home, and the couple sang together at weddings, funerals, and other events.

Their pursuit of further education next took them to Indiana, where Ramon was born, and then to West Virginia, where Jake earned his doctorate.

With several teaching opportunities available, Jacob and Mildred decided to move to Bellingham. They had enjoyed the area while traveling through it, and Western Washington State College offered Jake a position. He became Professor Hamm and taught voice at the college level.

The family arrived with very little money and no furniture. They pitched a tent at Larrabee State Park while searching for a home. They eventually bought a house across from the golf course in town. Because it would be several weeks before they could move in, the owners allowed the Hamm family to camp on their beach in the meantime.

As school began, the two younger boys enrolled at Bellingham Christian School. A teacher learned of the family’s temporary homelessness and invited them to supper. The two families became close friends and enjoyed celebrating together.

During the 40th move of her life, Mildred learned that she was expecting another baby. Rodney arrived the following July.

With five sons, Mildred stayed busy sewing, cooking, canning, and playing piano for private voice lessons. She was a devoted friend to her neighbors. Once the boys were mostly grown, she sang with the Whatcom Chorale, volunteered with the Assistance League and the YWCA, enjoyed time with a close group of friends, and traveled to many places.

Mildred lived a full life for 97 years. During her final months, she prayed that the Lord would quietly welcome her into heaven while she slept. He granted her request on June 30, 2026, and she is now singing His praises with joy.

She is survived by her sons, Don (Sandy), Bob (Judy), Loren (Jeanine), Ramon, and Rodney; her grandchildren, Laurie (Ethan), Chad (Emily), Cory, Eric, Aubrey (Niko), Bryce, Kyle, and Kristen; and her great-grandchildren, Echo, Ember, Erin, Esther, Archer, Adalee, Lexi, Felicity, Cal, and Chanel.

Memorials may be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators.