Gene Holsing

Gene Holsing, age 80 of Wecota/Aberdeen, was called to his heavenly home on July 2, 2016 at the Faulkton Area Medical Center. 

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wecota with Pastor Timothy Koch presiding. Burial with military honors followed in the church cemetery. Visitation was held from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 5, 2016 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wecota.

Gene A. Holsing was born June 30, 1936 on the family farm near Wecota to Victor and Louise (Hahler) Holsing.  He became a child of God through baptism on August 2, 1936 at Immanuel Lutheran Church and confirmed his faith April 2, 1950.

Gene attended Freedom Rural School through the 4th grade, Wecota School through the 8th grade, and graduated from Cresbard High School in 1954.  He graduated from Northern State College in 1958. 

Gene married Beverly Anne Smith, the love of his life, on June 1, 1958 in Faulkton.  They were married for 58 years.  From this union came four daughters: Lori (Kurt) Holt of Wecota, SD, Lisa (Pat) Eichinger of York, NE, Vicki (Mark) Melius of Lincoln, NE, and Leslie (Riley) McKeown of Richfield, MN.  Gene was blessed with 8 grandchildren: Nick Holt and Gene (Lora) Holt of Wecota, SD, Mathew Eichinger and girlfriend Laura Robinson of Orange County, California, Melissa Eichinger, Alex Melius, and Adam Melius of Lincoln, Nebraska, Ben McKeown and Samuel McKeown of Richfield, Minnesota, and great-granddaugher Ryan Holt of Wecota.

Gene entered the Army in 1958 and was recalled in 1961 for service during the Berlin Crisis.   He was proud of his military service and was a life-long member of the Hunt-Newell Post 213 of Cresbard, SD.  After completing his military service, Gene returned home to Wecota, SD, to run H & H Implement and the family ranch.  In 1971 Gene began a business partnership with life-long friend Charles Seaman at the First State Bank of Warner and H & S Insurance Agency.  Gene was a proud Northern graduate and active alumni. 

There was nothing that Gene enjoyed more than spending time with his beautiful wife and family.  Gene truly loved everyone he met and their lives were made richer for knowing him.  Even though Gene suffered many health issues throughout his life, he never had a bad day.  He counted every day a blessing that was not to be wasted. 

Gene is survived by his wife Beverly, his daughters and their families, and his sister Marlene Kern.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Vic and Louise, and his sister Eileen Butler.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are directed to the Faulkton Area Medical Center Foundation, PO Box 100, Faulkton, SD 57438.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Gene’s arrangements.