Eugene “Gene” Arthur Gilbert, 83, of Brookings, died after battling kidney disease surrounded by family at Edgewood Vista, an assisted living facility in Brookings that had become home on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018.
Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Bethel Baptist Church. Burial is at Bethel Cemetery in rural Yale. Visitation is from 5-7 p.m. today, at Eidsness Funeral Home.
Eugene “Gene” Arthur Gilbert was born on March 13, 1934, to Samuel and Birdeva (Rhine) Gilbert in Brookings.
Gene grew up on the family farm and graduated from Verdi High School, Minnesota. Throughout this time he was known to his family and friends as Art. When he entered the Air Force in 1954, he learned that his birth certificate read Eugene Arthur instead of the reverse. He served in the Air Force in Germany and Japan and received an honorable discharge in 1957. He moved to Brookings, where he met Ellen Kleinsasser in November 1959. They married in April 1960 and moved to Hillsboro, Kansas, where he earned his bachelor’s degreee from Tabor College. After teaching science in Doland and Alexandria, Gene was employed as a South Dakota Health Inspector based in Brookings for 22 years. Gene and Ellen showed their commitment to each other as they dealt with the challenges of Ellen’s multiple sclerosis. Gene made it possible for them to be very involved in the lives of Jon and Katie, their grandchildren who lived nearby.
Always an avid hunter, fisherman, and gardener, Gene later became involved in square dancing as well. He also taught fourth grade Sunday school and helped with the MOPS program for years at Bethel Baptist Church.
Gene is survived by his children Timothy (Marlene) Gilbert of Erie, Colorado, Ruth (Paul) Manson of Huron and Susan (Dr. Timothy Collins) Gilbert-Collins; seven grandchildren; siblings, Ivan (Marjean) Gilbert of Fargo, North Dakota, Jeannine (Lou) Beasley of Hanover, Minnesota, Kathleen Priester of Hastings, Minnesota, James Gilbert of Hopkins, Minnesota, and Lureen (George) Beasley of Crown Point, Indiana.
Gene was preceded in death by his wife, Ellen, in 1994, his brother John, sister Darlene and hs brother-in-law Donald.
Because of his love for children, memorials will go to a local preschool program with which Gene had connections. Memorials can be sent to Ruth Manson.
