Allen Lee Hamilton, 86, of rural Dexter, Minn., died on Sunday, May 4, 2014, of natural causes at his home in Hayfield, Minn.

He was born Nov. 29, 1927, in Iowa to Elmer and Ethel (Oulman) Hamilton. He grew up on the family farm and attended rural school. Allen was married on Dec. 25, 1944, in Northwoods, Iowa, to Faye A. Kirkpatrick. Following their marriage the couple farmed near Dexter until 1949, when they moved to Waterloo, Iowa, where Mr. Hamilton was employed at John Deere. They returned to the Dexter area in 1952 and moved to a farm in 1955, where they raised their family and lived for many years. Mr. Hamilton was a lifelong farmer and was also employed at Weyerhauser Co. in Austin and in construction for a number of years. Mrs. Hamilton was a farmwife and homemaker and after her children had graduated, was employed at the Rock Dell Creamery for a few years. Mrs. Hamilton died on January 17, 1988. Mr. Hamilton retired from farming and sold the farm in 1999. He moved to Sargent where he lived until moving to Hayfield in 2012. He was a past member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Pleasant Valley Township and was a longtime member of Evanger Lutheran Church in Sargent where he served on their leadership councils and on the building committee. Allen was a true family man and enjoyed taking his family fishing and on vacation and playing the harmonica and accordion. After retiring, he took a part-time job delivering newspapers and read the news daily and followed the Minnesota Vikings. He enjoyed time spent with friends and his family, especially his grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Allen is survived by two daughters and one son: Linda(Jim) Risser of St. Charles, Minn., Valerie (Lloyd) Helland of St. Louis, Mo., and Wade(Janet) of Rochester, Minn..; 15 grandchildren; 33 great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren and a brother — Richard(Marce) Hamilton of Kasson, Minn. He was preceded in death by his wife, Faye; his parents; three sisters and three brothers.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 9, 2014, at Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday morning.

The funeral service for Allen L. Hamilton will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2014, at Evanger Lutheran Church in Sargeant, Minn., with Rev. Dwight Dobell officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray in Stewartville. www.griffin-gray.com.