Gene Ladson

Gene Ladson age 64 of Belle Fourche, died Saturday November 15, 2008 at his home, surrounded by his loving family, following a three year fight against cancer. The funeral service will be held 1pm Friday at the Christian Life Center in Belle Fourche with Rev. Paul Howard officiating. Visitation will be 5 to 7pm Thursday at Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. During this time there will be a public prayer service at 7pm. Inurnment will be held in Black Hills National Cemetery, with military honors provided by the Belle Fourche Veterans Honor Guard. Gene Allan Ladson was born July 12, 1944 in Bucyrus, North Dakota. He was the son of Glenn and Amelia (Weil) Ladson. Gene was the ninth child in a family of twelve siblings. He grew up on the family farm near Bucyrus. He attended school in Bucyrus, Wing, and Reeder ND and he later received his G.E.D. in 1963 while serving in the U.S. Air Force. In the spring of 1961 he moved with his family to Spearfish. Gene was married to Margaretta Smith in Beulah Wyoming on March 20, 1971. To this union, four children were born: Lisa in 1967, Lorin in 1971, Lori in 1972, and Larry in 1975. Gene was proud to have served his country in the U.S. Air Force. For 22 years, he worked in Colony, WY at the Baroid Bentonite Plant. He also worked in road construction and due to a construction accident in 1991 he was forced to retire. Gene will be remembered for his love of farming, especially sitting on a tractor, plowing. He enjoyed fishing as well. His family was precious to him and taking family vacations each year was important. Gene loved his grandchildren and he was faithful in attending the many sporting events that they were all in. He was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather and will be missed very much. Gene is survived by his wife, Margaretta of Belle Fourche; daughters, Lisa of Belle Fourche, Lori (Kelly) Dittus of Almont ND; sons, Lorin (Karen) of Mildenhall AFB in England, Larry (Jamie) of Hulett WY; 13 grandchildren, Jason, Jordan, Mikey, Jennifer, Chauncy, Julie, Kristie, Jackie, Rachael, Chelsae, Brianna, Joseph, Kayla; and 4 great grandchildren, Riley, Daven, Pamela, and Michael. He is also survived by his sisters, Joyce (Arol) Knutson of Reeder ND, Betty Smith of Wing ND; brothers, John (Janet) of Spearfish, Roger (Sheryl) of Rosebud MT; brothers-in-law, Jim Corean of Spearfish, Percy Hansen of Piedmont; sister-in-law, Linda Ladson of Spearfish; and numerous nieces, nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Norman, Lloyd, Melvin, and Jerry; sisters, Lorraine Breckenridge, Caroline Hansen, and Zola Corean; nephews, Tracy Ladson, Glenn Smith Jr, Jody Corean, Michael Breckenridge; niece, Darla Mae Ladson; and great grand nephew, Jonathan Ladson.