Please click on the video tribute below to view Rory's celebration and inurnment services.

Rory Dean Hamre, age 67, of Beltrami, MN, after an 11 year battle with cancer, died peacefully on Monday, June 24th at Sanford Hospital, Fargo, ND, surrounded by his loving family.

Rory was born on October 11, 1956, in Crookston, Minnesota to Rolland and Arlene Hamre. He was baptized and confirmed at Scandia Lutheran Church in rural Beltrami. He attended grade school until 6th grade in Beltrami, then attended Fertile-Beltrami High School, graduating in 1975. There were many wonderful memories made in Scandia township with family and neighbors. After graduation, Rory attended the University of Minnesota, Crookston and graduated in 1978 with an associate degree in crop production. During each of those three years, he won awards for crops in Ag-Arama. Rory later attended a winter semester at Lutheran Bible Institute near Seattle, WA in the late 80's.

On June 9, 1990, Rory was united in marriage with Barb Otteson at Perry Lutheran Church in Portland, ND. They moved to their farm near Beltrami, where they raised their three beautiful children, Erika, Ross, and Denae. His children were his pride and joy. In the fall of 2016, they moved to the homestead farm where Rolland and Arlene had lived.

Rory devoted his time to the family farm. He started farming, alongside his father (Rolland) and brother (Steve) in 1978. They grew wheat, soybeans, and sugar beets. In 2011 he was excited to try something new and started growing corn. In 2020, the farm gained the honor of becoming a century farm. Rory has now passed the legacy onto his son, Ross, where they have worked side-by-side over the past few years.

Rory cherished spending time with his family, whether it was getting together during the holidays, having his nephews up to help during harvest, or family get-togethers at the lake. He never missed a chance to be with family. He loved fishing, golfing, motorcycle rides, camping trips, hunting, ice fishing trips up north, snowmobiling, and occasional winter vacations. He also liked getting together with his buddies. He was a volunteer at the Beltrami Fire Department, where he served as the fire chief for numerous years and was a member of Farm Bureau, where he served as president of the West Polk County Board. He was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Beltrami. While making trips to Mayo in Rochester for his cancer treatments, Rory and Barb were able to enjoy day trips to nearby destinations and explore scenic areas. Rory loved to sing in church. It was with great sadness that he lost that ability to sing due to cancer. Even though that gift wasn't passed to his children, he would pause to see if they would surprise him and sing anyway. He is, no doubt, now singing with the angels. Rory was well known for his frequent updates online, with funny jokes and beautiful pictures of his fields and nature.

Rory is survived by his loving wife, Barb; his three children, Erika Hamre, Ross (Kaitlyn) Hamre, and Denae Hamre; his brother, Steve (Jane) Hamre; his sisters, Valerie (Lynn) Sulerud, Marcia (Dale) Schoenborn, Nancy Hamre, and Marla (Paul) Swenson; and many nieces and nephews.

Rory was preceded in death by his parents, Rolland and Arlene Hamre; sister-in-law, Karen Otteson; and nephew, Nathan Ray.

Celebration of Life Service: 2:00 PM, Monday, July 8, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Beltrami, MN.

Visitation: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Sunday, July 7, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Beltrami with a prayer service to begin at 6:30 PM.

Inurnment: Fairview Cemetery, Beltrami, MN.

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