Duane A. Hartel, 93, of Williston, North Dakota, passed away on August 31, 2026. He was born on January 11, 1933, in Schafer, North Dakota, to Aleck and Rachel Hartel.
Growing up on the family farm, Duane learned the values of hard work, responsibility, and devotion to family. As an older brother, he also helped care for his younger siblings.
Following high school, Duane proudly served his country in the United States Navy, achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer E-7 as an aviation electronics technician. His service gave him the opportunity to travel and see many parts of the world — experiences he carried with him throughout
his life.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Duane began a long and successful career with Bell Telephone Company, which eventually became AT&T. Through hard work and dedication, he advanced from working as a lineman to being the manager for Western North Dakota before retiring.
Despite retiring from formal work, Duane kept busy, spending his time on a variety of pastimes. He helped out on his brother Lemoine’s nearby farm, from driving tractors to purchasing his own cattle. Duane also enjoyed traveling in an RV with Lavonne, spending months at a time in Arizona each winter. Duane was also very involved in his local church, serving as a project manager for the construction of a new church building.
Although Duane was a homebody at heart, he loved spending time with his family and crossed the United States many times to connect. Faith was the cornerstone of his life, and he lived according to his Christian values. He will be remembered as a hardworking, devoted, and faithful man who deeply loved his family.
Duane is survived by his children, Duane Jr. (Lisa) Hartel, Dennis (Lisa) Hartel, Shelly Lamb, Sandy (Roger) Buckley, and Cory (Allison) Hartel; 12 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and his siblings, Delores Zingleman, Sharon (Dwayne) Allen, Lemoine (Clarice) Hartel, and Patricia (Glen) Skogland.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Melva (Perkins); his second wife, Muriel “Lavonne” (Jones); his parents, Aleck and Rachel Hartel; and his sister, Shirley Carroll.