Rueben Ookie Hammond, 93, Minot, and former director of the Minot Recreation Commission died on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 in a Minot hospital.

Rueben Edward Ookie Hammond was born on May 3, 1917 in Westhope, North Dakota. He was adopted at an early age by John Tucker J.T. and Gina (Nickelson) Hammond. He was raised in Westhope and in Minot where he and his adoptive mother moved in 1920 following his adoptive father\'s death in 1918. His mother was an immigrant from Norway who supported her son by washing clothes and house cleaning. She became employed as a custodian at Harrison School on the campus of Minot State University in 1929 and continued in that capacity until her retirement in 1953. She lived to be more than 100 years old and was a widow for 76 of those years. Her strong faith in God and her work ethic left an indelible image on Ookie.

Ookie attended school at Minot State University Lab School and graduated from Minot Model High School in 1936 and from Minot State University in 1940 with a bachelor of arts degree in secondary education. As a student he was a district and region honoree in basketball as well as a football player at Model High School and four year letter winner, all conference and captain of the MSU basketball team. He was a member of the ND Amateur Basketball All State team in 1941. He was employed by the Great Northern Railroad from 1941 until 1948. Rueben married Viola Fornes on November 27, 1942 in Sidney, MT. They made their home in Minot where he served as the director of the Minot Recreation Commission from 1948 until he retired in 1977. In addition, he was employed as a basketball, football, and baseball official for many years and during his retirement years he was employed by the Old Republic Company as a farm program disaster official from 1980 until 1990. Vi died on July 15, 1998. Ookie had been a resident of Trinity Homes since 2002.

Ookie was a member of the Protestant faith and he especially enjoyed officiating, fishing, promoting Minot and volunteering for city projects. He was co-chairman of the Roosevelt Park swimming pool restoration project, and chairman of the committee that established the South Hill Softball/Youth Baseball Complex and Spring Lake Park (now Hammond Park). He served as President of the ND Officials Association, ND Parks and Recreation Association, MSU Beaver Boosters, Minot Elks Quarterbacks Club and was a 50 year member of the Minot Elks Lodge. He is a member of the Halls of Fame of the ND Officials Assn., ND Softball Assn, ND Parks and Recreation Organization, Minot State University Athletics, and Minot Baseball and was honored by the Minot Eagles Aerie with a Community Service Award and by the Dakota Eagles with Home Builders and Community Service Awards. The Knights of Columbus honored him with an Americanism award, Minot Chamber of Commerce with the Genie award and the Minot Recreation Commission named the International Fastpitch Softball Tourney in his honor. In addition, he had received commendations from the Minot Air Force Base, Mary College, Bishop Ryan High School and the City of Minot.

Our dad's passion for people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds earned him many lifelong friendships. He was a very loving son, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a wonderful man who will be missed by many.

Survivors include his daughters: Patricia (Wesley) Johnson of Edina, MN and Bonita Jo Bonny (Dennis) Berryman of Minot; Grandchildren: Jolene (Andy) Tucker of Edina, MN, Wes Jr. (Kumaree) Johnson of St. Cloud, MN, Briana Jo Berryman of Scottsdale, AZ, and Brett Berryman of Scottsdale, AZ; Great-Grandchildren: Ben, Brooke, and John Tucker of Edina, MN and Raj Johnson of Sartell, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents and wife: Viola.

Celebration of Life Service: In the Spring of 2011 at the Trinity Homes Chapel - Minot.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park - Minot.
Visitation and Viewing: Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. in the Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
In lieu of plants or flowers, memorials are preferred to the Magic City Youth Baseball Foundation or the Minot Park District Foundation for Hammond Park and can be mailed to Patricia Johnson at 9450 Highland Blvd #6207 - Bonita Springs FL 34135 or Bonny Berryman at 1720 11th St. S.W. - Minot, ND 58701.