On February 17th, 2026, Louis (Louie) Joseph Hamel passed away peacefully at Bethany Retirement Home in Fargo, North Dakota with family by his side. Louis was born on June 26, 1930, near Eckman, North Dakota. After graduating high school, Louis worked as a farm hand for Chris Zurcher Farms. He met Theresa (Stroh) in Minot, North Dakota and they were married on November 16, 1949. They relocated to Lakota, North Dakota where they purchased their land and farmed for more than 50 years while raising their four children. Together Louie and Theresa celebrated 74 years of marriage.

Louis was a proud farmer. He was named North Dakota's Outstanding Young Farmer and attended the national convention in Fort Collins, Colorado in April of 1965. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Mary's Catholic Church. He served on the Lakota school board and was very active in the Lakota community. He liked waterskiing, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting and playing cards. He and Theresa enjoyed watching his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren participate in sports, music, and 4H activities.

Louis was preceded in death by his wife, Theresa (Stroh); his son, Richard Louis Hamel; his parents; and siblings.

Surviving children are Connie (Dennis) Reiss, Traci (Bruce) Maragos, and Jim (Suzanne) Hamel; grandchildren, Ella (Bobby) Payne, Jacob (Caitlin) Reiss, Teri (Billy) Thompson, Andrea (AJ Wohlers, Eric (Ali) Maragos, Ricky (Katie) Hamel, Adam Maragos, Ben Hamel, Phillip (Kloee) Hamel, and Jacob Hamel; great-grandchildren, William, Vivian, Luke, Madison, Emery, Salem, Judd, Blair, Kelsey, Connor, Simon, Wynn, Kip, Lennyx, Rikki, Finnegan and Callahan. He is also survived by siblings, Elaine Schelling, Barabra Streich and Edmund Jr.

The funeral service for Louis Hamel will be on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 11:00 am at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lakota, North Dakota.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Mary's Catholic Church or St. Jude Children's Hospital.