Eugene Dale Latza, age 81, of Mitchell, SD (formerly of Letcher, SD) died Friday, December 2, 2011 at Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM on Tuesday December 6, 2011 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mitchell with burial at Butler Cemetery near Letcher with military rites. Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Monday at the Will Funeral Chapel in Mitchell. Gene Latza, son of Anton and Anna (Blecha) Latza was born August 13, 1930 in rural Letcher, SD. He graduated from Letcher High School in 1948. Gene entered the US Army in 1952 and served during the Korean War for two years. Gene was united in marriage with Carol Ann Mohr on November 9, 1963. The couple farmed near Letcher until their retirement in 1997 when they moved to Mitchell. He was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mitchell. Gene was a lifetime member of the Letcher American Legion. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Carol; three children Sherri and husband Wes Stekl, Letcher, SD; Barbie and husband Andrew Nadeau, Rome, Italy; and Greg and wife Jodi, Sioux Falls, SD; eight grandchildren Brett, Kurt and Todd Stekl; Nicholas and Matthew Nadeau; and Anna, Luke and Jack Latza; a sister Betty and husband Jim Anderson, Baltic, SD; and a brother Albert and wife Mildred, Pawnee City, NE. He was preceded in death by his parents.