Our History
The Hamre legacy started in the small town of Minot, North Dakota in the year 1910. John Hamre and his brother Peter Hamre started a Furniture and Undertaking business and unknowingly paved the way in the funeral industry for the Hamre family. In 1936, John’s son Ernie was born in Provost, Alberta. Ernie was a second-generation funeral director who laid his roots down in Dawson Creek, British Columbia where he owned Reynars Funeral Home. He served his community from 1966 until his retirement in 2002.
Ric Hamre, son of Ernie and third generation of the Hamre family to start his career in the funeral industry, was born in Lethbridge, Alberta in 1959. He began his career in 1977 in Edmonton, Alberta at the young age of 18 years old. Ric eventually moved to the Dawson Creek/Fort St. John area, where he would work alongside his father Ernie until 1986 when he eventually purchased Hamre’s Funeral Chapel in Fort St. John. Ric would become the first funeral director to own and operate the funeral home while residing in the Fort St. John area. Ric has served families for 45 years and although semi retired, he continues honouring the lives of the many families he has served throughout the years.
Kaylie Varga, daughter of Ric and the fourth generation of the Hamre family to start a profession in the funeral industry, was born in 1984 in Fort St. John, British Columbia. She started her career at Hamre’s Funeral Chapel in September of 2007 and is very proud to work alongside her father in the community she was born and raised. She has served the Peace River Country for over 15 years and continues to carry on the traditions and legacy of the Hamre family that has been passed along for over 100 years.
Hamre’s Funeral Chapel continues to grow and adapt to the changing community around it. We are proud to continue this long tradition of caring and strive to provide dignified and compassionate care to the families who call upon us.
