Mason C. Hamre

Mason Christopher Hamre passed away on Tuesday, in Fargo. He was 17.

Mason struggled with mental-health issues most of his life, but his loved ones don’t wish for that to define him. He was so much more: an extremely intelligent, funny, sarcastic, family-oriented kid.

Mason truly was a bright light — the kind of person who strangers would approach because they seemed to sense he would always be open, respectful and kind.

Mason was born to Chris Hamre and Robin Hamre (now Rummel) on Nov. 12, 2004 in Fargo.

From early on, he was an individual with distinct likes and dislikes — from food to music to fashion. Mason knew what he liked and didn’t care if it wasn’t the norm.

Mason loved spending time with his family and seemed happiest when surrounded by those he loved. Whenever he got to do something with his siblings, Alex or Sophie, he couldn’t stop smiling, and they had grown very close in recent years.

Mason also looked up to his cousins, uncles, and aunts. In fact, the mullet he was so very proud of was inspired by his cousin, Connor.

Dogs meant the world to him, and he had many animals in his life. His all-time favorite was Lola, with Hazel coming in a close second.

Mason loved being outdoors, whether he was fishing with family members, four-wheeling or sitting around a campfire. He also drove his grandpa crazy when he would fall asleep in the bottom of the boat instead of fishing! He even did a winter camp-out with his brother and slept in the backyard in a fort he built in January after asking for nothing but winter camping gear for Christmas.

Mason loved old country music, especially any song with a story. His taste in music varied from rap to Hank Williams Jr., and his family loved hearing him belt out the songs in the shower while he cranked the music as loud as it would go.

In fact, Mason sometimes seemed like a young man from another time. One of his teachers used to call Mason “an 80-year-old man in a 17-year-old body.” He was not the typical teen who didn’t want to hang out with the adults in his life. Mason loved hanging out with his grandparents and thoroughly enjoyed the time he spent with them.

Mason idolized his dad, Chris, and wanted to do everything he did; Chris called him his “little buddy” even after he grew taller than him. He and his stepdad developed a close bond and loved playing basketball together. He also loved to tease his mother, trying to physically pick her up, calling her “Mo-ther,” with exaggerated emphasis and jumping out to scare her when she least expected it.

One of his teachers sent a glowing text about Mason to his parents after he graduated from high school. “Mason was so very loved at school. He was one of the most special young people I’ve ever had the privilege to work with,” she wrote. “Thank you for sharing a part of your son’s life with me (even if he’s 80 sometimes).”

Mason was extraordinarily bright — remembering the tiniest details of past events or anything that he studied. He graduated with honors from Moorhead High School a year early, despite missing long stretches in the classroom due to hospitalizations or stays in residential care.

Mason dutifully walked in Moorhead High’s commencement on May 29, if only to please his mom. In fact, he was more excited about the graduation party with friends and family and was so happy and proud that so many came to celebrate his achievement.

The day of his graduation party was filled with much love, laughter and pictures taken with family. Those moments will forever remind us of a young man so special, so unique and so determined to follow his own path that he can never be forgotten. His memory will always live on — burning brightly, refusing to fade — within us.

We would like to thank all the people, far too many to list, who showed such compassion and care to Mason at times when he was struggling. Your kindness helped ease the pain during some of the most confusing and difficult times of our lives.

We take comfort in knowing Mason was greeted at heaven’s gate by his beloved grandmother, Linda Life, his GG, Vida Fisher, and his stepbrother, Zachary Rummel.

He is survived by his parents, Robin (Cary) Rummel, Fargo; Chris (Christine) Hamre, Moorhead; his grandparents Larry and Connie Hamre, Fargo, and Eugene (Irene) Life, Fort Benton, Mont.; his siblings Alex and Sophie Rootham, Fargo; his step-siblings Alexa Rummel, Emily (Ethan) McNab, Gabe Zorn and Samantha Harling, and numerous loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Hope Lutheran South, 3636 25th St S, Fargo, with visitation at noon.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the West Center Regional Juvenile Center or Lakeland Mental Health.