Gerold Hamilton

Gerold E. Hamilton 80 of rural Battle Lake , Minnesota went to be with his Lord and Saviour on February 18, 2011 in flight to Sanford Health Care in Fargo , North Dakota .

Gerold Edwin Hamilton was born on June 29, 1930 in Alliance , Nebraska the son of Frank and Ada Iola (Speer) Hamilton. He was the fourth of eight children. Gerold was raised in the Sandhills south of Gordon, in a sod house on the family ranch. Years later the family moved to a new home built near the soddy’s site. He attended country school through the eighth grade, graduated from the Gordon High School in 1949, and after graduation began ranching with his dad on the Hamilton Ranch.

Gerold and Nellie Simms were married on July 1, 1951 at the Gospel Chapel in Gordon , NE. They lived on the ranch, and later moved into Gordon where he was employed with the Frey’s Appliance Store. Born to Gerold and Nellie in Nebraska were four children, Bev, Randy, Kendall and Barb. In 1959, the family moved to Minnesota where Sherril and Mike were born. They purchased a farm north of Battle Lake where they made their living farming and raising cattle. During his lifetime, Gerold was his happiest when he was hard at work. He stayed busy, not only farming and raising cattle, but hiring out in many occupations. He drove bulk truck, school bus, semi truck, worked road construction, and also worked at a tree nursery. In 1993 he started cutting back on farming, he continued in the cattle business and worked for other farmers and fully retired in 1997. Gerold and Nellie were active members of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Battle Lake , where he had served as a board member. In the later years they began attending the Church of The Nazarene and Lakes Community Church in Clitherall.

Gerold enjoyed being involved with the church family, following politics, attending auctions, going to the sale barns, loved to visit and could start a conversation with anyone. His nieces and nephews knew him as the uncle who loved to tease. Gerold always stood up for what he believed. He would always seek out and visit with those that other people would avoid. He had a tender heart for the unfortunate and he loved telling stories, he had many sayings and one liners. Family was very important to Gerold and he loved getting together with his siblings. The family enjoyed listening to Gerold, his sisters and brother recalling memories of their years growing up on the ranch. There was always much laughter as they reminisced. Family reunions were filled with much teasing, music and laughter.

Gerold suffered a brain aneurism in 2001. He made many gains in his recovery, but was also dealt many setbacks. His ability to visit grew more and more limited. But his eyes were so expressive and his smile was contagious. Right up to the end of his life, he always recognized who people were, and was thankful for anyone who came to visit him.

Gerold showed his deep love for the Lord as he stayed strong in his faith through all the trials he went through. He, with the help of his wife, Nellie continued living on the farm, till his death. His love for the land he was raised on, the Nebraska Sandhills was always strong. Gerold never asked for anything from his family but prior to his illness, he often requested he be taken back to the sandhills to be laid to rest.

Gerold’s earthly body will return to the sandhills, the land that he loved so much. He’ll be laid to rest, south of Gordon , NE , at Pleasant Point Community Church Cemetery , a church that Gerold and Nellie helped get started during the years they lived on the ranch.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Doll; brother, Alvin; infant sister, Imogene; brothers-in-law, Van, Vern, Jack and Vick Simms, Tommy and Harold Aspinall, Ralph Lewis, Ed Hartman and Leland Robertson; sisters-in-law, Betty Lewis, Edith, Oma, Millie and Barb Simms and Allie Aspinall; and nephew, Paul Lewis.

Gerold is survived by his wife, Nellie; children, Bev (Al) Albert of Fergus Falls, Randy (special friend, Michele) Hamilton of Frazee, Kendall (Tomi) Hamilton of New York Mills, Barbara Hamilton of Monticello, Sherril (Doug) Houser of McClusky, ND and Micheal (Debra) Hamilton of Jordan; grandchildren, Ryan (Holly) Albert, Shawn (friend, Jaime) Albert, Sara Albert, Rylie Hamilton, Janean (friend, Jason) Hamilton, Josh (Lacy) Hamilton, Jason (Jennifer) Hamilton, Michelle Hamilton, Steve and Cody Houser, Chelsey, Justin and Jordan Hamilton; 17 great-grandchildren; five sisters, Vida (Jerry) Myers of Creighton, NE, Jean (Eldred) Reeves of Gordon, NE, Rena (Fred) Capler of Elgin, NE, Wanda (Veldon) Morgan of Hot Springs, SD and Yvonne (Bill) Mooney of Ellsworth, NE; three sisters-in-law, Gertie Hartman of Custer, SD, Cora Aspinall, Rushville, NE and Laura Robertson of Taloga, OK; and 44 nieces and nephews.

Memorials preferred to the Gideons or visit the shut in, the sick or just a lonely person that needs a kind smile or a cheerful word.