Visitation: His visitation will be Monday, July 28, 2025 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Canton, with a Prayer Service beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Service: Funeral Services will be Tuesday, July 29 at 11:00 a.m. the Peever Lutheran Church in Peever, SD.
Eugene “Gene” Hortness, age 82, died Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at his home in Canton, SD. His visitation will be Monday, July 28, 2025 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Canton, with a Prayer Service beginning at 6:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be Tuesday, July 29 at 11:00 a.m. the Peever Lutheran Church in Peever, SD.
Eugene Melvin Hortness was born October 10, 1942 in Sisseton, SD to Peter and Deloris (Chilson) Hortness. Gene attended school in Peever, graduating in 1960. He served in the U.S. Army for a brief time and was discharged after a farming accident while home on leave claimed 3 fingers on this left hand. The Army said he would no longer be able to handle a gun and shoot, but decades of hunting afterwards proved them wrong. He then attended Huron College and later General Beadle in Madison, SD. Following graduation, he taught History and P.E. in Bristol, SD for a year. After deciding that teaching was not for him, Gene then worked in the Ag related business serving the farming community for over 40 years.
Gene married Marilyn Huff August 1, 1970, in Peever, SD and they lived in Bristol, Lamour, ND and Claire City, SD, before settling in Gettysburg, SD in 1985. After they both retired, Gene and Marilyn moved to Canton in 2015.
Gene loved to hunt and fish, and the family spent many weekends camping at Roy Lake and other locations during their time in northeast South Dakota. While in Gettysburg, Gene and his boys spent many days hunting geese on the Missouri River bluffs and deer all around the area.
Gene was a member of the American Legion and also served as Church elder and board member over the years. He was also a founding member of the Gettysburg High School Booster Club.
Gene is survived by his wife Marilyn of nearly 55 years; his sons – Jon and wife, Nicole, of Chicago, IL and Jay and wife, Ashley, of Canton; five grandchildren; Brooke (and fiancé Thomas Gallagher) of Houston, TX, Bradley and Kyle of Chicago, and Mataya and Jayce of Canton; sister-in-law Arlene Cleveland of Sisseton, SD and brother-in-law Larry Huff and wife, Arlette, of Mitchell, SD. Gene was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Marilyn Siemonsma.
So sorry for your loss. Judy and I always enjoyed our visits with him as well as his contributions on Facebook!
I WAS WAITING FOR A HAIR CUT WHEN SHE GOT THE CALL! SO SORRY. LOVE YOU 🙏❤️
i am sorry to hear of Genes passing. So many fond memories of all of you during your “Gettysburg era”. I can still hear Gene’s deep belly laugh! Thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers
May he rest in peace. Gene always had a smile on his face. Prayers to the Hortness family.
So very sorry to hear of this news. Hugs and prayers to the family.
I’m so sorry for your loss! Gene will be remembered as kind and gentle man.
I’m so sorry to hear about Gene. I was in the seed business several years based out of Pierre and I’m a Gettysburg native. Gene always displayed honesty and integrity. He was always friendly. We competed fairly and we cooperated on test plots. I always enjoyed that. RIP Gene.