Ermalee Hermanson

Lignite

Ermalee Elizabeth (Jeffery) Hermanson, 92, Lignite, ND, passed away on March 30, 2024, in her home at Cocoa Beach, FL, with family at her side.

Ermalee Elizabeth Jeffery was born on March 16, 1932, to Henry (Jeff) and Clara Jeffery in Portal, North Dakota, the fifth of six children. She was raised and educated in Portal and would often reminisce about the fun she had when she stayed at her maternal grandparents’ farm in North Portal, Saskatchewan as a child. After graduation, she taught at a country school near Portal until her marriage to her high school sweetheart, Keith Hermanson, on March 2, 1951. Ermalee and Keith lived in Colorado and California during Keith’s stint in the army, and then made Lignite, North Dakota their permanent home, where they established and operated their farm until retirement in 1996. Between 1955 and 1966, five children were born. A life-altering tragedy occurred in 1968 when second-born daughter, Shelli, was stricken with cancer. Tragedy struck again in 2007 when her grandson, Ashley, was killed in an MVA. On March 6, 2009, Keith passed away. Ermalee continued to live in their home in Lignite until late 2016, when she moved to Cocoa Beach, Florida to live next door to daughter, Jyl.

When her kids were young, she bought a primitive cabin at White Bear Lake, Saskatchewan so they could have the experience of pumping water, heating and cooking with a wood stove and using an outhouse. She lovingly played a major role in the life of each of her grandchildren, ranging from day-to-day child care to shuttle service for dance, Taekwondo and sports to support for equestrian competitions. Her favorite activity during her last years was watching ever-changing slideshows of her great-grandsons on a digital photo frame.

Ermalee loved winter, the color blue, and books, and was a dedicated viewer of Minnesota Twins games and QVC. She was an avid gardener, growing a variety of flowers and vegetables, apples, cherries, juneberries, raspberries, strawberries and grapes in her yard. Spotting and identifying the migratory songbirds that were attracted to this bounty was one of her joys. Her homemade buns, lefse and sandbakkels were always in demand, as she was a skilled baker and cook. Her collection of hand-written and clipped recipes and recipe books is cherished by her daughters and grandchildren.

Her pets over the years were very dear to her: dogs, cats, horses, and now and then, chickens. One winter, in an attempt to blend her affection for snow and dogs, she obtained a dogsled and designed harnesses for her German shepherd and Norwegian elkhound.

Ermalee had a fondness for the Black Hills area of South Dakota and had wonderful memories of a spur-of-the-moment trip to the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup with her sister, Ginger, and her daughter, Lisa. She treasured the time spent with Keith, her grown children, and grandchildren during vacations to Caribbean islands and Florida.

Ermalee was predeceased by her parents; sisters, Jean and Ginger; brothers Clarence, James and Neal; husband Keith; daughter, Shelli; grandson, Ashley Bakken; and son-in-law, Steve Knutson.

She is survived by daughters, Jyl (Randy) Baumann of Cocoa Beach FL, Lisa (Brett Baumann) Knutson of Lignite ND, Maia Hermanson of Orlando FL, and Lori (Mark) Hermanson-Germain of Orlando FL; grandchildren, Brittany (Scott Dyer) Bakken, Jade (Dave) Feldner, Jamie Bisson, Hailey Germain; great-grandsons, Harvey, Arlo and Bernie Dyer; step-grandchildren, Jessica (Adolfo) Bagnarello, Chris (Hanna) Baumann, Tanner (Chelsea) Baumann; step-great-grandchildren, Hailey and Gunnar Bagnarello, Tucker and Sophie Baumann, Kannan, Ozzy and Silas Baumann; Lane and Lee Feldner; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Graveside committal service will held be at the First Lutheran Cemetery near Lignite on April 26, 2024, at 3:00 pm.

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).

Published by The Minot Daily News, April 25, 2024.