Louis Hamilton, age 81, of Huron, died Friday, August 13, 2010, at Huron SunQuest Healthcare Center.

His funeral mass will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 17, at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish with Military Rites by the Huron Veterans Council.

Following this service his body will be donated to the University of South Dakota Medical School with a private burial service of his cremated remains at a later date.

Visitation will be Monday from 1-8 p.m. at Welter Funeral Home with family present from 6-8 p.m.; or Tuesday morning one hour prior to the service at the church.

Louis John Hamilton, son of Wilbur and Myrtle (Rau) Hamilton, was born on July 6, 1929, in Chicago, Ill. He attended Oglesby Public Elementary School in Chicago from 1935-1943 and graduated from Calumet High School in Chicago in 1947 where he was a member of the National Honor Society.

He began his college education at the University of Chicago, which was interrupted on October 27, 1950, when he entered the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He served as a fireman aboard the destroyer USS Kenneth D. Bailey. He was honorably discharged on July 11, 1952. He returned to the University of Chicago and finished his education graduating with a Bachelor of Science and Masters Degree in 1957 in geology. During the summer months of 1954 Lou worked as a Park Ranger at Yellowstone National Park. In 1958 he began his working career with the US Geological Survey.

He moved to Billings, MT, in 1958, where he met his future wife. On January 9, 1960, Lou married Louise Skagen in Billings. In 1962, they moved to Madison, WI, then to Huron in 1970. He retired in 1992.

Lou and Louise were instrumental in starting the Huron Area Center for Independence, and the Center honored Louise and Lou for their many years of hard work by naming one of the community homes, the Hamilton House, in their honor. Lou was a co-founder, member, past president, and past member of the Board of Directors of ARC (Association of Retarded Citizens) and past president in 1987-88; Huron Area Senior Center; Huron Advocacy Program for handicapped individuals and Lou also helped the members with their religious education; Meals on Wheels; Holy Trinity Catholic Parish; American Legion; and member and past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus; and helped each year with Special Olympics. He played baseball in college and softball in the 1970s and 80s, and had an active interest in photography.

Lou is survived by his 4 daughters, Andrea (Scott) Meyer of Mitchell, Corinne Hamilton of Huron, Melissa Tegethoff of Rapid City, and Stephanie (Dennis) Bennett of Huron; 1 son-in-law, Craig Tegethoff of Mitchell; 11 grandchildren, Shaun (Carla) Meyer, Erin (Chris) Richards, Kelly Meyer, Laura Meyer, Taylor Meyer, Jordan Meyer, Carter Meyer, Amber Bruns, Nicholas Tegethoff, Dana Bennett, and Randa Bennett; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert and Janet Skagen of Roundup, MT; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Louise on April 19, 2010; sister, Annette Slimkowski; and brother-in-law, John Slimkowski.