Gene Allen Sampel

Gene Allen Sampel, age 67 of Forest River, ND, passed away on Thursday, August 13, 2026 at the HIA Heathers House in Fargo, ND.

Gene Sampel was born October 6, 1958, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Grafton, ND, the son of Bonnie (Gerrard) Sampel and the late Gilbert “Gib” Sampel. He grew up near Forest River, ND, where he attended grade school before graduating from Midway High School in 1976. He farmed for several years before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1985. 

As part of his military service, Gene attended the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California, where he completed the Korean language program. During his 22-year Army career, he worked as a military linguist and intelligence analyst, spending a combined 14 years stationed in South Korea, with additional assignments in Maryland and Texas. He was united in marriage to U Yon Kim on December 7, 1991, in Anjeong-ri, South Korea. Gene retired from active military service in 2007 and continued working overseas for several years as a private defense contractor in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The family later returned to North Dakota, where Gene took a year off before returning to work as a truck driver. He continued driving truck for several years before eventually retiring. 

Gene was a member of the Forest River Community Church and the Forest River American Legion. In recent years, he enjoyed developing an orchard of various fruit trees on his farm near Forest River. Above all, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, especially sneaking them chocolate bars when their parents weren’t looking. 

Gene is survived by his wife, U Yon, Forest River, ND; children, William (Addela) Sampel and John (Kaylee) Sampel, both of Grand Forks, ND, and Hanna (Chandler) Barnes, Casselton, ND; grandchildren, August, Oliver, and Thomas; mother, Bonnie Sampel, Grand Forks, ND; sister, Cheri Langei, Grand Forks, ND; as well as his niece and nephew, Lindsey and Josh. He was preceded in death by his father, Gilbert; daughter, Kimberly Sampel; and two sisters, Baby Girl Sampel and Dawn Sampel.

Funeral services will be Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Forest River Community Church. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00–7:00 PM at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton. Friends may also call at the church on Thursday for one hour prior to the service. Military rites will be provided by the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard and the Forest River American Legion. Interment will be at the Forest River Cemetery.