Eugene Oscar Kinney, 90, passed away May 4, 2025 at Monument Healthcare Hospice Suite, Sturgis, SD.
He was born April 14, 1935 in Terraville, SD to John and Pearl (Dow) Kinney. Gene joined three sisters; Berniece, Irene, and Betty, and three brothers; Bub (Donald), Harold, and Babe (John Jr.). Another sister, Helen, and brother, Joe, were to follow. They all lived in a small three-bedroom house.
At a young age he started working in the timber alongside two of his sisters and Dad. The older brothers had gone off to World War II. The story always was he went to his first day of High School, left by the back door and never went back. He had to work and help support the family.
Gene loved playing basketball, even from a young age. He was on the Terraville team and played many a game. They always won.
Then Gene met his true love, Karen Lee. They were married on August 21, 1956. Three children blessed this union; Wendy (Chuck), Rod, and Kathy (Kevin).
He worked for Bald Mountain Mining until it closed and then went to work for Homestake Mining. In 1965 he packed his family up and moved from the hills of Terraville for the plains of Stoneville, where he had more of the grass he loved. While Karen ran the store, Gene worked for the rancher, Joe Bruch. Eventually he worked for the Meade County Highway Department, maintaining all the roads in the area.
While out at Stoneville, Gene got back into basketball by coaching Red Owl and umping games.
Not done moving yet, in the fall of 1973 he moved the family to Sturgis, which would be the last stop. He then went to work for Farmers Union Oil (Cenex). First as a bulk driver, then the Manager and finally General Manager. He retired for a few years and then went to work for the Food Service for Meade School District.
Gene was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Sturgis and Spearfish. He was Worshipful Master several times. He became a Shriner and eventually Potentate of the Naja Shrine. Gene also belonged to Eastern Star and was Worthy Patron Multiple times, and became Grand Worthy Patron of South Dakota. He was a member of the Sturgis United Methodist Church.
So, he is finally with his Karen and the Lord. He will be greatly missed by his three children, eight grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers memorials have been established to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital and Sturgis United Methodist Church.
Visitation will be at Kinkade Funeral Chapel, Sunday, May 11, 2025, 3:00-4:00 pm. Funeral services will be at Calvary Baptist Church, Sturgis, SD, Monday, May 12, at 11:00 a.m. Burial, with military honors, will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.
