Dean Markel Obituary

Dean Delong Markel, 90, of Hoople, North Dakota, passed away Thursday, September 12, 2024 at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, North Dakota. Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Hoople, ND. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. 

Dean was born August 9, 1934 on the family farm near Hoople, ND the son of Albert and Cora (Porter) Markel. He grew up in the Hoople area and graduated from Hoople High School. Dean started farming upon graduating from high school. He had a real passion for his crops and cattle. On January 29, 1954, he married Wanda Carew, the love of his life, in Glasston, ND. Dean and Wanda were inseparable, and the only time they were every apart was when Dean went on a fishing trip with his son-in-law Roger. They had 2 children, Debra and Robert. For the first several years of their marriage, they wintered in California where he worked at Boeing Aircraft. Later in life, he and Wanda wintered in Fort Myers, Florida, and Arizona. He also loved his 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Always willing to teach them about the farm, go on countless tractor rides, take them to town for a treat at the cafe, and spending time with them at their place on Lake Melissa or their winter home. He was a life-long member of the Hoople Methodist Church.

He is survived by his children: Debra (Roger) Blair, West Fargo, ND and Robbie Markel, Hoople, ND, grandchildren: Corey Blair, Shawn Blair, Chris (Kara) Blair, Cody (Becky) Blair, Larissa (Jordan) Lindtwed, and Austin (Peyton) Markel, great-grandchildren: Sam Blair, Colton, Loella, and Xander Blair, Quintin, Rowan, and Flynn Blair, Luna and Lola Lindtwed. Also surviving are his siblings: Shirley Grinager, Albert Markel Jr., Donnie Markel, and Ruth Jackson.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Cora, and his wife of 68 years, Wanda.