Lenora C. "Ham" Hickey

Lenora Catherine Hickey, age 87, passed away on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at Oak Terrace Assistant living. She was surrounded with love from her children and grandchildren the days before her passing.  

Funeral service 11:00 a.m., Thursday, September 25, 2025, at North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce drive, North Mankato. Visitation will be one-hour prior to service. A private Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Mankato.  If interested, memorials may be made to the Multiple System Atrophy Coalition or Saint Croix Hospice.

Lenora was born on August 19, 1938, to Elizabeth and George Hammerschmidt of Springfield MN. She attended Springfield Highschool until the 10th grade, later completing her GED on September 30, 1975, which she was extremely proud of.  

Ham was an energetic teenager; she loved ice skating and swimming; both were her dreams of becoming professional. She enjoyed and participated in many sports. She met and fell in love with her husband of 67 years at the Springfield swimming pool at the age of 16. They were married on April 12, 1955.  

Together with her late husband Marlin (Monnie), they raised five children: Kay, Pam, Julie, Mike and Lana. After living in Northern MN for a few years, they eventually made North Mankato their home. 

During Hams’ adult life, besides raising her five children, she worked at Paper Box, the Holiday Inn, Home Daycare, cleaned Holy Family Church and rectory in Lake Crystal, and was a nurse’s assistant at the Lake Crystals Assistant Living Facility, where she retired at the age of 78.  

She volunteered for many years putting together the Church Bulletin for both Holy Family and Holy Rosary Catholic Church. She helped with a variety of events put on by the Lake Crystal American Legion, which she was a proud member of. She loved gardening, reading, and making people laugh, but her greatest joy was being around her family. She had deep trust in the Lord who was always with her, especially during her most difficult times.  

One of Ham’s most heartfelt memories was to organize and facilitate a large garage sale having the proceeds go to the MSA Coalition (Multiple System Atrophy) in honor of her late daughter Kay, whom she called Kassie. After Kay’s passing Ham created “Kassie’s Garden”, which consisted of plants and birds surrounding a small white tree with twinkling lights. The twinkling lights always remained on, comforting Ham throughout her nights.  

Ham had the kindest heart and loved to help others however she could. She loved her children and grandchildren unconditionally. She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend.  

Lenora is survived by her children Pam Rae, Julie (Bob) Joerg, Mike Hickey and Lana (Randy) Simon. Grandchildren; Steven, Tony, Shannon, Liza, Don, Chris, Matthew, Alex, Joy, Jon, Andrea and Megan. Seventeen great grandchildren and four great, great grandchildren. Brother-in-law, Jim Hickey (Terri Stratton) and sister-in-law, Corrine Hammerschmidt, along with many nieces and nephews.  

She was preceded in death by her husband Marlin, daughter Kay, son-in-law Jerry, her parents George and Elizabeth and stepfather Henry. Parent in Laws Emmett and Bernice Hickey. Her seven siblings: Gerald, Beatrice, Patricia, Rita, Virgil, Virginia, and Dennis, and many more extended family members.  

The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by Mankato Area Funeral Homes.

Unforeseen technical, internet, facility, and/or acoustical circumstances may produce a diminished end product. Please note, if the live stream does not appear, we are attempting to record and publish the service for later viewing.