Madge Mortensen May Hampton

Madge Mortensen May Hampton

Oct. 14, 1931 – July 10, 2023

Madge Mortensen May Hampton, 91, passed away July 10, 2023, in Lovell. 

Madge, born Oct. 14, 1931, in Lovell, was the daughter of Lucile Olson Mortensen and Horace Meeks Mortensen. She was the oldest of five girls in the family of Madge, Miriam, Rena, Kay and Ruth.

She grew up roller skating and ice skating. She remembered carrying her shoes back and forth from school, not wearing them, so they wouldn’t wear out during WWII and rationing. She remembered walking by the German prisoner of war camp that was in Lovell.

She worked as a volunteer candy striper at North Big Horn Hospital as a young teenager, remembering that an influx of births required putting newborn babies in
drawers when the nursery filled to capacity.

But most of all she loved to dance. She danced
her way through life, dancing up to the last days of her life.

She married Andrew Porter May, whom she met at a dance, on Jan. 31, 1950, in Billings. They had six children, Andrea, Robin, Greg, Colleen, Rhonda and Scott Morgan.

Madge became a farm wife after marrying Andrew, moving to a farm in Kane. She learned to herd cows, raise bum lambs and ride horses. She knew how to move cows to the Dryhead and the Pryor Mountains. She embraced living on a farm and ranch, raising six children. 

She grew large, beautiful gardens and canned hundreds of jars of vegetables and fruit. There was always homemade bread, cottage cheese, jam and scones dripping with home-churned butter and honey. Three bounteous meals a day were served to her family.

She sang to her children and grandchildren. She insisted they learn to drive by the time they were 4 or 5 years old. She loved them beyond measure, and they continued to feel that unfailing love as they grew. She helped them learn and grow in the 4-H program.

Madge served many years in Primary and Boy Scouts. She was always generous of spirit, giving, serving and loving those around her.

She is survived by her six children, sister Ruth Hauck, 30 grandchildren and nearly 100 great-grandchildren.

Services were held Friday, July 14, at 2 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lovell. There was a viewing at 1 p.m. in the West Wing of the church.