The memorial will be continued at the Bayard American Legion. Born on April 25, 1941, in Minatare, Neb., to Louie Sr. and Mary Sauer, Louie was the fourth of six children. Never being afraid of hard work, Louie has demonstrated a commitment to his family, agriculture, and entire community across decades.

Louie attended Bayard Public Schools before leaving early to help with the family farm, then purchasing his first farm by the early age of 18.

Farming came natural to him.

He was operating tractors and other equipment when he was just 6 years old. He even got started tilling ground with a team of horses. He was an excellent mechanic and fabricator, building a cultivator and a payloader himself out of an old army jeep frame. He, his dad, and his brother Art raised hogs together, and he started his own cattle herd.

Louie became one of the most successful and charismatic young farmers in the panhandle of Nebraska. Louie received the OutstandingYoung Farmer Award in recognition of his exceptional progress in agricultural contributions to his community, one of his proudest achievements over the course of his successful career. Over the years, his hard work and dedication earned him several additional recognitions. He received the GreatWestern Sugar High Station Award for producing the highest average sugar yield per acre in 1962, ’71, ’76, and ’78. Louie was also recognized as a member of the 10,000 pound club in 1977 by virtue of the fact that a beet contract of his produced 10,000 lbs or more sugar per acre.

He was recognized in 1993 as the GreatWestern Sugar High Company Club President for superior quality.

On June 10, 1967, Louie married the love of his life, Betty Virginia Wood.Together they built a strong and loving family, raising three children and welcoming five grandchildren. Louie often praised Betty for her kindness, endless support, and partnership through many chapters of his life.

Louie was preceded in death by son Jason; parents Louie Sr. and Mary; sisters Delores, Gladys, and Dorothy; and brother Art.

Louie is survived by his wife of 59 years Betty; sister Ginny; daughter Diane (Tom) Galaway, and granddaughter Gretta Galway; son Brian (Mandi) Sauer; granddaughter Haley and Sierra, grandson Ben, and granddaughter Annabel Sauer.