Alvin Gene Mathis, age 82, of Mitchell, SD, died Sunday, January 25, 2015 at The Inn on Westport in Sioux Falls, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM Friday, January 30, 2015 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with burial and military rites at Calvary Cemetery, Mitchell, SD. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Thursday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with a prayer service followed by a rosary beginning at 7:00 PM. Arrangements are under the direction of the Will Funeral Chapel. Gene Mathis, son of Guy and Alice (Meade) Mathis, was born in Plankinton, SD on August 23, 1932. He grew up on the family farm NE of Mt. Vernon, SD. Gene attended country school and graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 1950. He entered the US Army on November 12, 1952 and served during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged on November 11, 1954 and returned to the family farm in the Mt. Vernon area. Gene was united in marriage with Elizabeth "Betty" Ries on May 1, 1956 in Plankinton, SD. The couple farmed NW of Mitchell for 22 years, where they were blessed with nine children. Later the couple moved to Kimball where they owned and operated the Travelers Motel for 22 years. In the summer of 1999, Gene and Betty retired to Mitchell, SD. While in Mitchell, Gene worked part time at Country Fair Grocery Store. Gene was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mitchell. He enjoyed competing in the Senior Olympics, fishing, restoring tractors and taking his 1956 Ford to car shows. Gene was a man blessed with good conversation; because of this he never met a stranger. Grateful for having shared his life are his nine children, Pat (Dean) Miller, Mitchell, SD, Pam (Greg) Petersen, Sioux Falls, SD, Calvin Mathis, Sioux Falls, SD; Diane (Frank) Sharping, Pukwana, SD, Mary (Kent) Hunter, Ardmore, OK, Julie (Gerry) Picek, Aurora, NE, Karen (Craig) Nedved, Rapid City, SD, Wayne (Trudy) Mathis, Murphy, TX, Bradley (Terena) Mathis, White, SD; 19 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; three brothers, Doug (Leatta) Mathis, Lead, SD, Allen Mathis, Rapid City, SD, Dan Mathis, Edgemont, SD; six sisters, Margaret Geralds, Sioux Falls, SD, Mavis Carver, Sioux Falls, SD, Marilyn (Ladd) Greene, Buffalo, WY, Judy (Alvin) Fischer, Mitchell, SD, Joanie (Rick) Hartenhoff, Sioux Falls, SD, Janie (Lloyd) Morrison, Mitchell, SD; a sister-in-law, Jane Bryan, Huron, SD; a brother-in-law, Vince (Shirley) Ries, White Lake, SD; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Mathis on May 26, 2007; a granddaughter, Holly Petersen; three sisters, Mary Mathis, Delores Syrovatka, Sharon Podhradsky; and a brother, Rodger Mathis. Cards may be sent to Gene's family at PO Box 90202, Sioux Falls, SD 57109.