Eugene "Gene" Shaw
June 22, 1927 ~ February 20, 2018
Gene Shaw, 90, of Miller, passed away Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at Good Samaritan Society in Miller.
Funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, February 26, 2018 at the First Presbyterian Church, Miller with Rev. Brian Jones officiating. Visitation began at 10:00 a.m. at the church on Monday. Burial followed at the Highmore Cemetery.
Gene was born June 22, 1927, in Mondamen Township, Hand County to Ed and Henrietta “Sis” (Heezen) Shaw. After graduating from Ree Heights High School in 1944, Gene soon entered the US Army at the very end of WWII. After his service, he took advantage of the GI Bill and learned to fly single prop airplanes, which became an early passion.
Gene married Mary Fieldsend, April 23, 1949, and soon afterwards, Gene took a job with the federal Border Patrol; eventually retiring as an Immigration Inspector in Scobey, Montana. In retirement, Gene pursued his passion for carpentry and woodworking when he provided local handyman services. Gene and Mary returned to South Dakota in 2012.
Gene loved to work with his hands, which served him well for handyman remodeling, home repairs and gardening. He has an impressive list of self-taught skills. As like many other rural folks, he became a good mechanic, being able to service most of his cars. He loved to sing and had a deep love for music. While never learning to read music, he learned to play guitar, organ, and accordion by ear. He also dabbled with other instruments, such as trumpet and clarinet.
He was a man of strong integrity and believed in “The Golden Rule”.
Gene is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary; son, Tony (Sheila) Shaw of PA; grandchildren: Becky (Danny) Whitsel, Stacey Batista, Aaron (Jazmin) Shaw all of PA; great granddaughters: Alexis, Julianna, Evie, Ava, Mylie, and Saylor all of PA; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Miller High School music program or St. Jude Children's Hospital.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Gene’s arrangements.
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Please accept my deepest sympathies.
So sorry to hear about Gene’s passing. Only a few people left in the clan at Miller. We didn’t know he and Mary had returned to Miller. Last we heard, Gene was still patrolling the border in Montana, except for the time he sat with Aunt Sis at the hospital. We will always remember the stories from "Onnie" and Harold about Gene’s adventures guarding the border and the visits from Gene and Mary over the years. He was a good man.
Mary and family, So sorry to hear about Gene’s passing. Some of my best memories are while working with Gene in Scobey. Think I almost gave him a heart attack when a wind gust almost blew me of the ladder that was 20 feet off the ground! He quickly made me an "official" employee for insurance purposes! Will always appreciate you guys driving to Great Falls for my wedding! Truly a great guy, he will be missed!