Amy Louise (McFarland) Carey, 67, of Fargo, North Dakota, passed away on April 6, 2021 under hospice care at Sanford Medical Center with both her daughters by her side. Amy was born on July 16, 1953, to Roger and Alice McFarland in Fargo, North Dakota, and lived her whole life in Fargo. She attended Horace Mann Elementary School, Ben Franklin Junior High, and graduated from Fargo North High School in 1971. After high school, Amy attended NDSU then transferred to Moorhead State University, graduating in 1975 with a BS in education with an emphasis on special education.
Amy had a very special place in her heart for children. Most of her career was spent caring for, teaching, and loving kids with special needs. She worked at St. Luke’s Hospital (now known as Sanford Medical Center) in Fargo, where she was a child life specialist. Amy talked about her work there often throughout her life. She took comfort in knowing that she could help children in the hospital be more comfortable and less scared about what was going on. Another job that Amy enjoyed very much was working at Bennett Elementary for many years as a paraprofessional. She made some wonderful friendships there with people she kept in touch with even after she retired. Amy met Don Carey in 1975 while they were both working at NDSU. They were married on June 25, 1977. They lived in a home in North Fargo for 40 years, and in 2018 they moved into their current home at One Oak Place in South Fargo.
Amy was an enthusiastic Bison fan and loved watching the football games on TV. She looked forward to going out to dinner on Friday nights with Don to the various restaurants in Fargo. Amy was a collector of elephants and started collecting at an early age, with her collection growing very large over the years. Amy loved socializing with all her longtime friends, whether it be phone calls and texting or going out to lunch. Amy was a proud lifetime member of First Lutheran Church. She was baptized, confirmed, and married in the church. She raised her children there and was so happy to be able to watch her two youngest grandchildren attend the church as well.
Amy loved her grandkids very much. She was very active in all five of their lives. Nothing made her more proud than to see the amazing kids they have all become.
Amy is survived by her husband Don Carey of Fargo. Her daughters Becky (Steve) LaMont of Rush City, MN, and Kathleen Schell of Fargo, ND. Along with her grandkids Brystin LaMont of Morris, MN, Kayden LaMont of Rush City, MN, Weston LaMont of Rush City, MN, Reesie Schell of Fargo, ND, and Huston Schell of Fargo, ND and her siblings Mavis McFarland of West Fargo, ND, Martin McFarland of Pierz, MN, Sylvia(Dave) Chase of Sartell MN, and David(Sherry) McFarland of Spicer, MN.
Amy was preceded in death by her parents Roger and Alice McFarland, and her brother Phillip McFarland.
The family requests memorials be sent to Bennett Elementary School in Fargo, ND, or to First Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, April 10, at First Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM on Friday, April 9, at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, with a prayer service following at 7:00 PM. Interment will take place at the First Lutheran Columbarium.
Memories and condolences may be shared by visiting www.hansonrunsvold.com
Arrangements by Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home-Fargo, ND
