Eugene Smith
Eugene “Gene” Smith, 77, of Fargo, ND passed away December 2, 2020, at his home with family at his side and under the gentle care of Red River Valley Hospice.
A public memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 18, at the Schuller Family Funeral Homes’ Verndale Chapel in Verndale, with Pastor Ken Uhren presiding. Go Rest High On The Mountain will be sung by Dan and Tammie Reger. A public visitation with family and friends will be held on Friday from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the services.
Military honors provided by the Elmer Goche Post 3922, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wadena.
Burial will be in Philbrook Cemetery in Villard Township, Todd County.
Honorary pallbearers will be Dan Reger, Rudy Fellman, Larry Sather, Clyde Mertens, Don Strack, John Hoemberg and Jack Trusdale.
Eugene “Gene” was born to Earl and Philomine (Strack) Smith on August 28, 1943, in Staples. He attended schools in Staples, then served in the U.S. Air Force for eight years. His very first job was on a dairy farm. He attended the Granite Falls Vocational Technical school in the Precision Machine program and worked for Ardell Products in the Twin Cities. Gene then worked as a Switchman for Northern Pacific Railroad and later Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad as a conductor and attained 37 years of experience.
Gene was united in marriage with Darlene (Fellman) Goodpaster on his birthday, August 28, 1969.
Away from work he filled his time with the outdoors as an avid hunter and fisherman. Gene and Darlene spent 16 winters in Corpus Christi, TX until Gene became too ill with COPD.
Gene is survived by his wife of 51 years, Darlene of Fargo, ND; three sons, Scott (Shari) Iverson of Circle Pines, Michael (Dena) Iverson of Staples and Bryan Smith of Wahpeton, ND; six grandchildren, Jay, Meagan, Shane, Heather, Jake and Holly; six great-grandchildren; four sisters, Mary Heltemes of West Bend, WI, Joyce (Larry) Garland of Slayton, Karen (Harold) Duda of Keystone, SD and Claudia Craft of Pillager and two brothers, George (Jan) Smith and Greg (Becky) Smith both of Staples.
Preceding Gene in death were his parents; one brother, Denny; one sister, Mikki and brother-in-law, Mathias Heltemes.
Arrangements by the Schuller Family Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Wadena (www.SchullerFamilyFH.com).
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