Louis Charles LaMoore

Louis Charles LaMoore Sr. August 25, 1930 - October 3, 2025 Louis Charles LaMoore Sr. passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones, in Shakopee, Minnesota, on October 3, 2025. He was 95 years old. He leaves behind a legacy of faith in the Lord, joy in living, and devotion to the family he cherished. Known affectionately as Lou, Big Lou, Uncle Charlie, or Charles, he was born in Jamestown, North Dakota, on August 25, 1930, to Yale and Alice LaMoore. The second youngest of six, Lou grew up adored by his five sisters. In 1942 the family settled in Grand Island, Nebraska, where their home was filled with warmth, kindness, apple and pear trees, and an assortment of pets-including beloved St. Bernards, springer Spaniel-cross, and an occasional cat. Lou attended school in Grand Island, where he was known for his friendly spirit, work ethic, and love of football. His generosity and smile made a lasting impression on his community. He spent many boyhood hours listening to stories from his uncle, the writer Louis L'Amour. Though 20 years apart in age, the two shared a special bond - including the family name - that lasted a lifetime, swapping tales of boxing, travel, and adventure. In June 1948, Lou enlisted in the U.S. Navy and became a Radio Seaman. He served proudly until his medical discharge in 1950, collecting stories of the sea, crossing the international date line, and even dabbling in a brief Navel boxing team career. After his service, Lou lived for a time in San Francisco. He loved to tell stories of his days as a singing waiter at a fine restaurant there and hanging out with Uncle Louis in the City by the Bay. On December 29, 1957, Lou married Betty (Mohr) in Moorhead, Minnesota. They began their life together in Bismarck, North Dakota, before moving back to Moorhead, where they attended Grace United Methodist Church and both sang in the choir. They moved to Minneapolis where they found another church home at Asbury United Methodist in Minneapolis and chose to stay with their church family even after settling in Bloomington in the mid-60s. Lou and Betty raised their family in faith, the fellowship of music, worship, and service-singing in choirs, teaching Sunday School, ringing handbells, and forming lifelong friendships. Lou's career path spanned sales, computer technology, and finance. He worked in the era when computers filled entire rooms with buzzing reels and paper streams, and he was part of a team that helped design some of the first personal computers for the public. He also enjoyed his position working at Portable Products Company, makers of the "Bucket Boss." After 55 years of marriage, Betty passed away in 2013. Lou later shared years with his children, living with Louie and Jeanne in Jordan before moving to Northfield, where he met and married Joyce (Morgan) LaMoore in 2019. In August 2025, he moved to Suite Living in Shakopee, where his kindness, smile, and warmth quickly won the love of staff and neighbors. His family is deeply grateful for the care he received by all of the staff at Suite Living and from Moments Hospice staff in his final days. Lou will be remembered for his love of western movies and for his lifelong joy in singing hymns and show tunes. He was known to wake his children by belting out show tunes or the "Rawhide" theme-complete with his own lyrics (move 'em out, get 'em up!) urging them out of bed. He had an insatiable love of reading, especially his uncle Louis's novels, and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge that never waned. Above all, he was always a polite and proper gentleman and carried a spirit of kindness. In Lou's eyes, there were no strangers-only friends he hadn't met yet. His radiant smile and steady optimism touched all who knew him. Beyond family, faith, and music, Lou carried a lifelong passion for politics. He served as a delegate for his political party and held an unwavering conviction that every vote counts. His faith in the Lord was the bedrock of his life. He trusted without reservation, leaning on God for strength, courage, and joy. In his final weeks, he shared his peace with his family, saying, "I am not afraid to die. I know where I am going. But I am in no hurry to get there. I love life!" When the Lord called him home, he went with peace in his heart and family by his side. Lou was preceded in death by his parents, Yale and Alice LaMoore; his wife of 55 years, Betty; daughter-in-law Lisa LaMoore; and his sisters Annabelle (Rodney) Shindo, Barbara Lou (Charles) Davis, June (William) Jackson, Alice Yvonne "Booie" (Richard) Williams, and Emily Jean "Jeanie" (Richard) Strickland. He is survived by his wife, Joyce LaMoore; his children: Louis (Jeanne) LaMoore Jr.; Vivian LaMoore (Jeff) Guy; Delavon LaMoore (Jeff) Gerdes; and Michael (Laurie) LaMoore; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; many beloved nieces and nephews; and countless friends. Services will be held at Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapel in Bloomington, Minnesota, on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m., officiated by Rev. Angela LaMoore, his granddaughter-in-law. Interment will take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.