Pius Augustine Hagel, 93, died on Sunday, October 21, 2018, peacefully with family by his side at Trinity Homes in Minot, North Dakota.  Pius was born on May 3, 1925 to John and Magdalena (Degenstein) Hagel in their home in rural Orrin, North Dakota.

Pius grew up on the family farm and received his education in the Orrin School after which he helped his parents with the farming and cattle.  Pius was drafted during WWII but was deferred because his brothers had already joined the service and Pius was returned home to help on the farm.  He briefly left the farm after the war and worked as a carpenter in Washington State and at a tile factory in California, before returning home. 

On June 27, 1949, Pius was united in marriage to Kathryn “Katie” Duchscherer in Karlsruhe, North Dakota.  From this union, five children were born, Mark, Colleen, Odell, Brian and Karen.  The couple made their life and raised their family on the farm.  Throughout the years, he drove school bus and helped with various construction projects.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus,  a member of the Harvey Eagles Aerie, a life-time member and Eucharistic Minister of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Orrin until its closing. He served on the Elling Township Board for 50 years, and also served on the Farmers Union board, and was the recipient of the Pierce County Soil Conservation award for 1978.  Upon his retirement, he helped area farmers with their grain operations.  In 2015, Pius and Katie moved to Minot where they reconnected with previous friends and made new ones.  Pius loved his family, playing pinochle, apple pie, Old Westerns, reading, Mollie B, Polka Joe, making people laugh and the little things life bestowed.

Pius is survived by his wife, Katie of Minot; children, Mark (Karen) Hagel of Garrison, Colleen (Jerry) Burau of Cary, North Carolina; Odell (Jan Hamilton) Hagel of Bismarck and Karen (John) Ploof of Minot; grandchildren, Kelly (Kim) Hagel, Kirk (Michelle) Hagel, Kyle (Katie Fokken) Hagel, Caitlin (Forrest) White and Mackenzie Ploof; great-grandchildren, Nick and Liz Hagel, Reese White, Henry and sibling to be in March, 2019 Hagel; brother, Raphael “Ray”; sister, Irene (Bennie) Feist; nieces, nephews; other relatives and friends.  Pius was preceded in death by a son, Brian; brothers, Al, Joseph, Clem, Fred and Florian; sisters, Maria/Mary Hagel, Anna Hagel, Martha Heintz, Ida Vanatta and Theresia Hendrickson and his parents.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 26^th at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Balta with burial in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Orrin.  Father Brian Bachmeier, Celebrant and Msg. Father Joseph Senger Concelebrant.

Visitation will be held on Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Vigil Prayer service beginning at 7:00 p.m. all at the Anderson Funeral Home in Rugby.  Visitation will continue Friday for one hour prior to the time of services at the church in Balta.