Pastor Gene R. Eidsness, 93, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, at Brookings Edgewood Healthcare.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23, at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings, SD. A Visitation will be held one hour prior from 10 to 11 a.m. at Rude’s Funeral Home on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.
A committal service will be held following the Funeral Service at 2 pm at Our Saviors Lutheran Cemetery in Henry, SD. Rude’s Funeral Home will live-stream the Funeral Service at www.rudesfuneralhome.com website, you may click on the link above Gene’s obituary.
Gene Eidsness was born on February 2, 1930, to Ole and Swanhild (Hernes) Eidsness. He grew up on a farm in Hamlin County, South Dakota. After graduation from high school, he attended Northern State Teacher College in Aberdeen, SD for one year. On Sept. 30, 1951, Gene married Virginia Clarksean. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954. Following his enlistment, Gene and his family returned to the family farm.
In 1964, the family moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where Gene attended Augsburg College and Luther Seminary School. He was ordained as a Pastor in the American Lutheran Church on his wife’s birthday, June 15, 1969. For the next 25 years he served parishes at Lake Preston, Astoria, rural White, Elk Point and Wilmot, all in South Dakota. After retirement in 1995, he assisted at parishes in Akron, IA, Casa Grande, AZ, and at various other churches.
Virginia Eidsness passed away July 13, 1994. On Nov. 11, 1995, Gene married Lois Sandvik. Lois passed away March 9, 2008. Gene and Virginia were HAM Radio operators, their call signs were KGCT (Gene) and KGCS (Virginia). They loved talking to people around the world.
Gene was a member of the American Legion in all the areas they lived for 71 years.
Gene is survived by his children, Carla Merchen of Brookings, SD, David Merriweather (Debbie) Eidsness of Brookings, SD, and Doug Eidsness of White, SD; grandchildren, Jennifer (Jeff) Anderson, Stephanie (Chris) Homeier, Kellen (Megan) Merchen, Derek Anderson, Stacy Anderson and Jordan (Josie) Eidsness; great-grandchildren, Mykel (Alex) Anderson, Mychelle (Tony) Donelan, Julie Anderson, Kassandra (Rey) Tamez, Jeremy Marquez, Nicholas Medina, Boyd Merchen, Owen Merchen, Jamison Ries, Wyatt Anderson, Shelby Anderson, Jonathon Stanton and Gage Stanton; great-great-grandchildren, Joseph Carrington, Kaya Tamez, Theia Donelan and Henry Donelan; son-in-law, John Anderson.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Ole and Swanhild (Hernes) Eidsness; brother Arlo Eidsness and daughter Kari Anderson.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to be sent to the Old Timers Association or the American Cancer Society.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.