Connie Bahmiller

Connie (Hoekstra) Bahmiller died March 30, 2022 at Avalon Care Center in Spokane, Washington. A graveside service will be held Sunday, June 12th, 2022 at 11:45 a.m. at the Northwood Cemetery. 

Connie was born to William and Clara Hoekstra in Northwood ND. She was baptized and confirmed at Ebenezer Lutheran Church.  She attended school in Northwood where she graduated from High School.  She also attended school at NDSU.

Connie worked a variety of jobs before finding her career in the banking industry, and she worked as a loan officer before her retirement.

She married Gary Bahmiller in 1993 and they made their home in Bismarck until his death in 2003.  After his death, she moved to the Pacific Northwest where she lived the rest of her life. 

Connie was a beloved sister and aunt and friend.  She had a beautiful smile, an infectious laugh and attitude and spunk to spare.  She would play endless games of Yahtzee at Bill & Clara’s with her family.  She spent countless hours with her nieces and nephews and was a beloved part of each of their childhoods.

After her move to Washington, Connie suffered an illness that left her mostly deaf.  Through this time she learned the art of texting to keep in touch with friends and family, and when she was able to regain her hearing through the miracle of cochlear implants, she rejoiced in the everyday sounds she had so missed.

Connie loved her dogs, reading and was gifted with needlework. She loved brain teaser puzzles.  Her laugh made others laugh with her…and wonder what she was up to.  In the last several years of her life she lived in a community where her neighbors became good friends and some more like family.  Even though her health declined, her spirit was bright.  She used her electric scooter to get around, she shared meals and laughs with her friends and made sure that she had doggie treats at the ready for any pups to cross her path. She will be remembered always.

Connie is survived by her sisters, Kathy (Rick) Greener and Beth Holmes, her brothers Bruce (Catherine) Hoekstra, Curtis (Darlene) Hoekstra and Richard Hoekstra, nephews Curtis (Amy) Hoekstra, David (Nicole) Hoekstra, Mike (Karli) Hoekstra, Jake (Margaret) Greener, Cory Hoekstra and John Hoekstra and nieces Christina (Danny) Harris, April Hoekstra, Cylie (Anson) Kuo, Amanda (Mike) Birkey, Justine (John) Westphal, Sarah Hoekstra and Leah Hoekstra.

She was preceeded in death by her parents Bill and Clara Hoekstra, her husband Gary Bahmiller, her brother John Hoekstra, her sisters-in-law Carol Hoekstra and Cheryl Hoekstra, and she made the journey to Heaven with her brother-in-law Kim Holmes, who passed on the same day.