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Eugene "Gene" Hamilton, 83, of Mitchell passed away Thursday, April 15, 2021 at his residence in Mitchell.  A memorial service will be at 11:00 AM Saturday, April 24, 2021 at Will Funeral Chapel.

Gene was born and raised in Milbank, SD; he was the third of four children born to Paul Wales Hamilton and Jennie (Wiese) Hamilton.  Gene often spoke fondly of his early years growing up in Milbank.  He would say that he was fortunate to have a father who loved him and taught him the value of hard work and a mother who loved him and loved to bake, Gene always did have a fondness for sweets.  Gene's brothers and sister would tell stories about Gene, describing him as very active, strong willed and a bit of a rebel.  Descriptions that held true though out his life.

At the age of 16 years Gene was in the 10 ^th grade when he left home to work for Curls Amusement Company; a small traveling carnival.  Gene drove the trucks from town to town, he also set up and help run the concessions and carnival rides.  In his later years Gene often told stories of his adventures during his time working for the carnival.  When the carnival season ended Gene returned home and promptly enlisted in the United States Navy; it was 1955 and he was 17 years old.  He started out as a Postal Clerk but was quickly re-assigned and transferred to the U.S.S. Collette where he trained and became a Sonarman Class A technician.

Gene would often say that he was a good Sonarman because he had such sensitive hearing.  Gene transferred out of active duty into the Naval Reserves in March of 1959 and was honorably discharged from the Navy in February 1963

While in the Naval Reserves Gene was living in Garden Grove California and it was there, he met his future wife, a young lady from Gann Valley, SD, Constance (Connie) Lavonne Franek.  Gene always said it was love at first sight.  Gene and Connie married in Las Vegas, Nevada in May of 1960 and made their home in Garden Grove California.  Gene became a father for the first time in 1961 with the birth of his first daughter, Debra Kay and again in 1963 with the birth of his second daughter, Donna Marie.  During the years spent in California, Gene worked as a mechanic, a car hauler driver and most notably his time spent working for KECO Industries where he trained to become a Refrigeration Technician and eventually became the plant manager.  Gene was proud and loved sharing stories about projects KECO did for NASA.  In 1972 Gene made the decision to move his family home to SD.  He missed SD and wanted his daughters to be raised around their family.  Gene settled his family in Mitchell, SD; Gene said he picked Mitchell  because it was centrally located and close to both Gene and his wife's families.  During the early years in Mitchell Gene worked for Snows Refrigeration and eventually started his own business, Gene's Refrigeration.  In later years Gene's Refrigeration became a part time business while Gene was employed by Porter Industries doing refrigeration and maintenance until he retired.

Gene would describe himself as a social person who loved spending time with friends and family.  When he was a  young man, he was a semiprofessional bowler and a self-proclaimed pool shark.  Gene often said that many times these games put food on the table and paid the bills.  After moving back to SD, Gene had a renewed love for being outdoors, he loved to go fishing and was an avid hunter.  Gene and his family spent many weekends with family doing these activities.  Gene also loved to go to auctions and would come home with boxes full of "treasures".  Another activity Gene enjoyed was his time spent volunteering at the Kimball Legion with his brother in-law, Roy.  Gene loved animals and would often come home with stray animals, at one time the family had rabbits, birds, fish, turtles, cats, dogs and eventually a horse.

Gene was blessed with four grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.  Gene loved spending time with the "kids" and would often arrange time to take the boys hunting or fishing and the girls out for lunch/theatre dates.  Gene was happiest when he was with them and would do anything to hear them laugh.

Gene is survived by his daughters, Debra Kay Hamilton, Donna Marie  Hamilton Young, his grandchildren, MSG Eric Bullis and his wife Lory, Joshua Bullis, Zach Bullis and his wife Keely, Ana Bullis Weeks and her  husband Tom, his great grandchildren, Stella Bullis, Bon Weeks, Cedric Bullis, Aiden Weiland, Dawn Bullis, Hazel Weeks, Thorin Bullis, Xavier Bullis and many nieces and nephews.

Gene was preceded in death by his wife Connie Hamilton, parents, Paul and Jennie Hamilton, brothers, LeRoy Hamilton, Donald Hamilton, sister, Lois Hamilton Stengel and his great granddaughter, Isobeth Bullis.