Eugene “Gene” Standish, 83
Eugene “Gene” Russell Standish, 83, of Brandon, passed away Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, at Ava’s Hospice House, from pancreatic cancer.
Visitation, with family present, will be 5-7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, at Faith United Church, Brandon. A time of group sharing will start at 6 p.m. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, also at Faith United Church. Burial will follow at the New Woodlawn Cemetery in Pipestone, Minn. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Faith United Church in Gene’s memory. Masks are encouraged but not mandatory.
Eugene “Gene” Russell Standish was born July 29, 1938, to Russell and Effie (Spoelstra) Standish, in Hatfield, Minn. He grew up in Hatfield and graduated from Pipestone High School in 1956.
Gene was united in marriage to Lois Rasmussen on May 28, 1960. He worked at the boat plant in Pipestone after he graduated until 1961, when the couple moved to Sioux Falls. In 1966, they moved to Brandon, where he has lived for the past 56 years. Gene worked at Raven Industries for 11 years and in 1972, he began a career in the trucking industry. He worked for American Freight and Yellow Freight, where he retired from in 2001. He worked 40 years part- and full-time, driving school bus and a van for the Brandon Valley School District.
Gene was a member of Faith United Church since 1966. He was a Deacon, worked on various committees, and delivered Meals on Wheels. He served on the Brandon Volunteer Fire Department for 20 years, and has been a long-time member of Teamsters Union 120 (formerly 720). He also was a coach for Little League softball for several years. He liked to travel, fish, watch sports, and attend Twins baseball and Vikings football games with his sons. Gene especially liked spending time with his grandchildren fishing and attending their games, concerts, and other school events.
Grateful for sharing his life is his wife, Lois; his children, Tom (Maridell) Standish, Sioux City, Iowa, Kim (Paul) Runia, Brandon, Lori (Dana) Cole, Brandon, and Brian (Tracy) Standish, Sioux Falls; daughter-in-law, Cathy Standish, Oakdale, Minn.; grandchildren, Jennifer Standish, Jack Standish, Caitlynn Runia, Caden Runia, Hunter Cole, Tanner Cole, Elizabeth Cole, Katelyn Morehouse, and William Winstead; great-grandson, Finn Thomas; brother, Richard (Dehlia) Standish, Whittier, Calif.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Gene was preceded in death by his son, Rick Standish; parents, Russell and Effie Standish; his brother, Donald Standish and his wife, Irene; and his sister, Delores Totman and her husband, Earl.
For online condolences, visit heartlandfunerals.com.
