Gene Vernon Peterson was born July 12, 1929, on the family farm in Bainville, MT. He is the son of Henry and Wilhelminia “Minnie” (Eschenbacher) Peterson. Gene was delivered by his Grandma Eschenbacher, a skilled midwife. Soon after Henry moved his family to the Crane/Savage area and bought a farm adjoining his brother Fred’s. Gene and his siblings grew up in this area attending the Midway and Sidney schools. Gene was drafted into the Army in 1953 and served his 2 years in the 82nd airborne division. After his honorable discharge, he returned home and continued farming. He and his brother Bunk bought a farm located west of Savage in 1957. Bunk later sold his share of the farm to Gene then started Red-i-Mix in Sidney. Gene married Ina Chandler in May 1959. To this union was born two children, Ross and Paula. They divorced in 1964. Gene later leased his farm to Harlan Conradsen, and then moved into Sidney where he discovered his talent as an electrician. He studied and did accumulate his needed hours then passed his test as a journeyman electrician. He reunited with a past girlfriend, Shirley Bach Forry and they married in November 1975. In addition to his new wife, he added four step-children: Patti, Elwood, Jodi and Dion. Shirley and Gene lived briefly at her home in Savage then two years later built a new home one mile north of Crane.
After Gene’s children all left home, he was able to enjoy doing electrical work in other states. On his last electrical job in California, some faulty equipment fell and shattered his right leg. Despite several surgeries, this injury forced Gene to retire. Gene enjoyed fishing and working in his yard. He also enjoyed spending time with his family. Morning coffee at his sister Virginia’s was the highlight of his day. He also had a wealth of old friends in the area to laugh and shoot the breeze with.
Shirley died June 19, 2012. Gene continued to live in their home in Crane until his death October 18, 2017 from metastatic kidney cancer. He died at home in the place he was happiest, surrounded by his family.
Gene is survived by: his son, Ross (Theresa) Peterson; daughter, Paula (Shannon) Peterson-Warnock; step-sons Elwood and Dion Forry; step-daughters Patti (John) Berger and Jodi Fritz; grandchildren, Dominique, Justin and Alyssa Peterson; great grandchildren, Jade and Jordan Peterson; nine step-grandchildren and 20 step-great grandchildren; sister, Virginia Dardis; and brother, Vernon “Bud” Peterson.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Shirley; brothers, Otto “Swede”, Ray and Gordon “Bunk” Peterson; sister, Patricia Peterson; brother-in-law, Wayne Dardis; and sister-in-law’s Jacqueline, Wanda and Virginia “Ginny” Peterson.