Eugene "Gene" Francis Rahrich

Eugene Gene" Francis Rahrich of Bismarck passed away February 3, 2013, at the Strasburg Care Center. He was 95 years old. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday at 10:30 AM at Church of Corpus Christi in Bismarck with Rev. Paul Becker officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Bismarck. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00 – 8:00 PM at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a Knights of Columbus Rosary will begin at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue on Thursday one hour prior to the service at the church. Gene was born July 25, 1917, in Linton, ND, the son of Lawrence and Mary Horner Rahrich. He grew up on the family farm near St. Michael, in Emmons County. In 1935 at the age of 17 he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp CCC and worked on various projects in Valley City, ND, Two Harbors, MN, and at the Coulee Dam in Washington, serving until 1938. He enjoyed his time with the Corp and told many stories of his experiences there as a young, adventurous man. He enlisted in the Army in March, 1941 where he earned the rank of Sergeant. He served as a Military Police officer on the west coast and in North Africa. He was honorably discharged in November, 1945. Gene returned to North Dakota and together with his brother, Wendelin, purchased and worked a farm in Emmons County until 1951 when went to work for the Farmer's Union in Bismarck. Gene married Sybella Ternes in May, 1951, and together they raised seven children. The family lived in Hebron where he worked for the Farmers Union until 1966. They lived for a short time in Zeeland before moving to Bismarck in 1968 where Gene purchased and operated Northbrook Skelly until 1977. Gene was an active member of the Church of Corpus Christi, the Knights of Columbus, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Bismarck community at large. Gene and Sybella were quick to volunteer to help anyone in need and could often be found delivering Meals on Wheels, providing rides to families in need, or selling St. Mary's Carnival tickets. He enjoyed life to the fullest and did not believe in being bored. He loved spending time with his family and friends and was always ready for a game of cards, a day of fishing, and never turned down a drive to the casino. Gene could fix anything that needed fixing and would find a way to make things last just a little bit longer. He also knew when there was no more "fixing" and time to put things away. In his last days, with a motion that was uniquely his own - the turn of a key - he told his family it was "time to turn it off." Gene will be dearly missed by his children, Cindy Bertsch, Bismarck, Allen, Portland, OR, Larry Chris, Brighton, CO, Ray Joni, Bismarck, Barb Kevin Hougen, Aurora, CO, Kathy Jerry Frohlich, Boulder, CO, and Donna Bob Sands, Highlands Ranch, CO; fourteen grandchildren, Sara Tom Regner, Bismarck, Nicholas Nicole Rahrich, Maple Grove, MN, Rachel Rahrich, Fargo, Mike Rahrich, Janay Rahrich, Mary Rahrich, Melissa Rahrich, all of Brighton, CO, Tessa Bobby Cam, Aurora, CO, Matthew Hougen, Sam Hougen, both of Denver, CO, and Adam and Jason Rahrich, Pflugerville, TX; and four great-grandchildren, Alexander, Liam, and Gavin, Maple Grove, MN, and Gabriel Richard Cam, Aurora, CO; one brother, Myron, Fargo, ND; and three sisters, Barbara, Strasburg, Anne Ralph Johnson, Oakland, CA, and Lillian Dan Hennessey, Reno, NV. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Sybella; five brothers, Wendelin, Alexander, Leo, Allen, and Richard; and four sisters, Marie, Johanna, Odelliea, and Viola.

Eugene "Gene" Francis Rahrich

July 25, 1917 - February 3, 2013