Gene Gates

Gene Gates, 88 of Aberdeen, formerly of Parker, passed away on May 4, 2026 at the Angelhaus Care Facility in Aberdeen. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, June 6, 2026, at St. Christina's Catholic Church in Parker. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 PM Friday, June 5, 2026 at the church with a Scripture Service beginning at 7:00 PM. Arrangements provided by Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Home.

Eugene “Gene” Lawrence Gates, 88, was born on September 9, 1937, at home in Montrose, SD, to Gilbert Bernard and Doris Marie (Stephen) Gates. He passed away Monday, May 4, 2026, at Angelhaus in Aberdeen, SD, surrounded by his loving children.

Gene attended K-12 and graduated from Parker High School in 1955. As a child, he loved visiting with people. He was an altar boy at church until the priest told him he was getting too tall. The priest couldn’t see the people in the pews above him. While helping his dad in the grocery store, Gene learned to work at a young age. His dad set him up with a popcorn machine so he could earn money. After paying his dad back for the machine, he saved up to buy his first car. In high school, Gene was a natural athlete. He played football, basketball, and track, with basketball being his favorite.

On September 15, 1956, Gene married the love of his life, Dorothy Hanisch, from a farm just a mile east of Pumpkin Center. They were married at St. Christine’s Catholic Church in Parker, SD.

Gene and Dorothy began their married life in Moorhead, MN. After some time, they relocated to Cheyenne, WY, where Gene worked for Fowler’s Department Store. During these years, their family grew with the births of Teresa “Terri,” Christine “Christie,” and Keith. Later, they moved to Parker, SD, where their son Todd was born in Freeman, SD, completing their family. During their time in Parker, Gene and Dorothy took over the G&W Shopping Center. In 1970, another move brought the family to Elk Point, SD, where Gene became a State Farm Insurance Agent and served for 29 years. Upon retirement, Gene and Dorothy spent summers at Lewis & Clark Lake and winters in Surprise, AZ, first as visitors and later as regular snowbirds.

Gene was a “make it happen” kind of guy. He often said, “You get out of life what you put into it.” He did everything with great passion. In their early marriage, Gene and Dorothy bowled in leagues and tournaments, taking the whole family along. At the same time, Gene still played some basketball, worked hard at the store and he and Dorothy started golfing. He also became a volunteer firefighter, physically running down Main Street from the store when the call came in to get trucks ready for the other volunteers.

During those early years, in the winter, when the streets were slippery, Gene would tie several sleds together and pull his children and a few neighbor kids down the street, spinning them in circles. Later, as the kids got older and the family moved to Elk Point, horses were purchased, and weekends were then filled with horse shows. Eventually, snowmobiles became part of their wintertime fun, along with other families, bonfires, and plenty of riding in the Dunes.

Gene was a successful insurance agent. His success allowed them to travel to Mexico, Spain, and Germany, and to take the whole family to Colorado Springs for a memorable trip to the Broadmoor Hotel. When the kids were grown, they purchased and sold a cabin near Burbank to invest in a boat at the marina on Lewis and Clark Lake, where friends and family made memories. Gene loved to entertain friends and family.

Gene was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy, parents Gilbert and Doris (Stephen) Gates, parents-in-law Frank P. and Verna (Rathman Pippett) Hanisch, siblings and their spouses Darlene (Arnie Miller), Vincent (Mary Ann Gates), and several Hanisch in-laws and their spouses, including Frank, Marvin (Helen), Donna (Rudy Abild), Chuck, Mary Lou Nicolson, Gary (Betty), Loren, Rita (Gene Boy), Marcene (George Redenius), Leo (Jan and Laura), Lorraine Johnson, Linda Hanisch, Vicky (Stan Shaw), daughter-in-law Debra (Hilton) Gates and grandson-in-law AJ Walker.

Gene is survived by his children: Terri (Mike) Traxinger of Houghton, SD; Christie (Chris) Bretz of Chandler, AZ; Keith (Cindy) Gates of Dakota Dunes, SD; and Todd (Cindy L.) Gates of Rapid City, SD. Grandchildren Cortney (Adam) Salmen of Loveland, OH; Michael Traxinger and Jerry McCabe of Claremont, SD; Aubryn (James) Thompson of Belmont, NC; Trevor (Lauren) Kayl of Wellington, CO; Brittney (Brandon) Bulson of Wahpeton, ND; Andrew Gates of Wilmington, NC; Kelsey Smedley of Charlotte, MI; Jessica (Lane) Hiller of Colman, SD; Sydney Gates of Sioux Falls, SD; and Nicholas Nitzschke of Sioux Falls, SD. Great-grandchildren Owen and Emme Thompson of Belmont, NC; Avery and Archer Salmen of Loveland, OH; Rylee and Ryker Bulson of Wahpeton, ND; Tylen Nitzschke of Sioux Falls, SD; Silas and Royce Hiller of Colman, SD; and Skylar Smedley of Charlotte, MI. He is also survived by brothers-in-law Terry Hanisch of Brandon, SD, Bob (Robyn) Hanisch of Sioux Falls, SD, and sister-in-law Phyllis Hanisch of Sioux Falls, SD.