Alfred Gene Ellingson , 88,  of Mitchell, formerly Forestburg, passed away on Saturday, June 10, 2017 at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Saturday, June 17, 2017 at Forestburg Lutheran Church in Forestburg. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM Friday at the Will Funeral Chapel in Mitchell. Burial will in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Artesian with military rites.

"Gene" was born May 18, 1929 in Junius, SD to Alfred and Foresta (Jopp)  Ellingson.  The family moved to the Forestburg area in 1931.  Gene attended elementary and high school in Forestburg, graduating in 1947.   He married Alyce Mae Oakley on October 1, 1949.  They lived in Huron for a short time, then moved back to the Forestburg area to farm with his father.

Gene was a veteran of the Korean War, serving  from 1954-1956.  After leaving the military, he farmed near Forestburg for over 30 years.  He served as president of Sanborn County Farmers Union for 20 years.  Gene worked for Magness Livestock of Huron for 25 years, and served over five years on the Forestburg School Board.  He sat on the Sanborn County Soil Conservation Board for 16 years, and served 12 years on the Sanborn Telephone Cooperative Board.

Gene spent retirement on the family farm near Forestburg.  He enjoyed attending Forestburg Lutheran Church and was a member of the choir.   Recently Gene and Mae moved to Countryside Living in Mitchell, SD.

He is survived by his wife, Mae, two children, Connie and husband Brian Sumption, Williston, ND, Cary and wife Mary Jo (Murtha), Rapid City, SD;  6 grandchildren, Joshua, Lisa, Michael, Stephen Sumption,  and Carly, Stevie Ellingson; two brothers, Wayne and wife Marie, Federal Way, WA,  Arnold and wife Cheri, Auburn, WA; two sister-in-laws Glenda Oakley, Huron, SD,  MayLou Oakley, Miller, SD, brother-in-law, Jim Winter, Custer, SD,  and many nieces and nephews.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Gloria, a son, Jerry, and one sister, Ellen, brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws, Gordon, Leonard and Patricia, Richard and Margie, Dale and Deveda Oakley.