Eugene Horst, age 83, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, at Bethany Home in Brandon. He was born on Aug. 29, 1940, to Otto and Adelpha Horst in Webster. He was the oldest of five children.
Visitation was Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. at Miller Funeral Home Southside Chapel. Memorial service was Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Miller Southside Chapel, 7400 S. Minnesota Ave. Private burial will take place in Webster, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s of South Dakota or the State of South Dakota Parks Dept.
He graduated from Webster High School. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Army from 1959 to 1961 as a military police officer. He married Garna Strand on Sept. 5, 1960, and they were blessed with five children: Greg, Gwen, Cherie, Gyle and Gary. He joined the Sioux Falls Police Department in 1962 and retired in 1990 after 29 years of service. From 1991 to 2001, he worked in security at the Federal Building in Sioux Falls. Between 2001 and 2011, he delivered auto parts for Car Quest and noted that it was his favorite job. From 2011 to 2015, Gene and Garna became campground hosts at Pickerel Lake. Gene was diagnosed with dementia in 2017. He enjoyed bowling, camping, fishing, gardening, grilling and spending time with family, especially the grandkids.
Grateful to have shared his life are his wife, Garna Horst; children, Greg (Julie) Horst, Gwen Juhnke, Cherie Grant and Gyle (Julie Kierst) Horst; siblings, Janet (Merv) Tvinnerman, and Leon (Pat) Horst; grandchildren, Collin (Nichole) Juhnke, William Juhnke, Garrett (Felisha) Juhnke, Kassandra (Grant) DeHaai, Carly (Joseph Pessia) Horst, and Mitchell Horst.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son and daughter-in-law Gary and Bonnie Horst, sisters Grace (Clyde) Hendricks and Diane Horst and sonin-law Ricky Juhnke.