Harry "Gene" Eugene Jones

VIEW FIRST LUTHERAN LIVE STREAM FUNERAL SERVICE

Gene (Harry E.) Jones died peacefully on Sunday, October 2 ^nd at Good Samaritan Luther Manor, Sioux Falls.

Funeral services will be held Friday, October 7 ^th at 11am at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. Visitation will be held at the church in the Christ the Victor Chapel on Thursday, October 6 ^th from 5-7pm. Interment to follow funeral services at the Colton Cemetery.

Gene (Harry E.) Jones was born August 30, 1936, in rural Humboldt, SD to parents Harry and Kathleen (Daniels) Jones. He lived his childhood in that rural setting growing to love the farm life and all that entailed. He attended country school and loved telling stories of getting to school on his pony, Silver. He attended and graduated from high school in Colton, SD. He prided himself that as a country school kid, he graduated near the top of his high school class. He attended SDSU for 2 years majoring in agriculture; he then began an ag career on the home farm.

He was united in marriage to Marilyn Carter on June 8, 1956. That union produced 5 children, James, Joni, Jayne, Bret and Susan. The couple farmed in the Colton and Chester areas for 20 years. Gene was awarded Minnehaha County Outstanding Young Farmer in 1966. After his farming career ended, he was employed with Getting Industries, John Morrell Co. and in building maintenance at Good Samaritan Luther Manor, Bank of New York, Premier Bank and Security Bank; retiring in 2001. For the next 16 years he was self-employed in a lawn maintenance/handyman service until a stroke forced him into full retirement in 2017.

Gene was an avid story teller, able to hold his listeners full attention. His stories included predator hunting from a small plane, hunting ducks, pheasant, foxes, coyotes and big game from Colton to the Colorado mountains, with his boys, Jim and Bret, as well as hunting bear in Montana and Siberia. When dementia slowly affected his ability to recall and tell the stories it was a significant loss to all who knew him.

On December 3, 1983 Gene was united in marriage to Shirley Koenekamp Swier in Sioux Falls. He considered Shirley his lifetime soulmate, believing their union was ordained and blessed by God.

Gene was a member of First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls since 1980. His mother reading Bible stories to him as a young boy had a profound effect on him and established a belief in him that slowly developed into a strong faith. He believed he was richly blessed by God throughout the challenges of life.

Survivors include Shirley, his wife of 38 years; children: James Jones (Susan), Larkspur, CO, Joni Bunde (Todd), Lyons, SD, Jayne Jones, Minnetrista, MN, Bret Jones (Veronica), Smartsville, CA, Susan Jones (Chris Flesche), Plymouth, MN: step children: Kevin Swier (Zenash), Chicago, IL, Kim Wampler Sentak (Mike), Shallotte, NC and Kraig Swier (Janet), Colton, SD; step daughter-in-law, Sandy Swier, Sioux Falls, SD; 18 grandchildren: Greg, Kari, Chris, Jacob, Josh, Sarah, Rachel, Ben, Suzi, Jaclyn, Addison, Jennifer, Dustin, Lindsey, Becca, John, Sam, and Nebie; 16 great grandchildren; and one brother, Charlie Jones (Donna), Colton, SD. He was preceded in death by his parents, a special aunt, Hazel Andeberg, a sister, Kathy Saiz, 2 step sons, Kyle and Kelly Swier and 2 granddaughters, Melissa Berg and Stephanie Swier.