Gene “Geno” Hunt

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March 22, 1933 – September 2, 2020

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  • Gene “Geno” Hunt
    Gene “Geno” Hunt
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Funeral services for Gene “Geno” Hunt, 87, of Red Scaffold were held Monday, September 7, 2020 at the Faith Area Community Center in Faith. Interment was in the Hunt Family Cemetery at rural Red Scaffold under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.

Geno passed suddenly and peacefully Wednesday evening, September 2, 2020 at his son Jim’s home near Faith.

Geno Ennis Hunt was born March 22, 1933, the second child of Jack Ennis Hunt and Jennie Elizabeth Annis Hunt, at a midwife’s house in Philip. The young family was living on the Hunt homestead at Ottumwa, north of Philip, for a few years before they moved to the place on Dupris Creek, south of Eagle Butte, where they raised their family.

Geno grew up helping on the ranch and with his 9 younger siblings, riding several miles to country school, and later driving 25 miles to high school in Eagle Butte. Geno started working for the Diamond A’s wagon boss, Albert Lopez (who later became his father-in-law), when he was 14 years old, breaking horses and working cattle.

He finished high school a year early in 1950, at age 17. He attended South Dakota State University for a year, then returned home to work as a cowboy. He received a draft notice and joined the US Army. Geno served in Germany with the Allied peacekeeping forces, and got to see a little of Europe.

He married his high school sweetheart, Effie Rebecca Lopez, on December 27, 1953, while home on leave. After his discharge from the Army, he enrolled in Black Hills State College, taking a full load of classes, while working full time to support his family. He graduating magna cum laude in 1958, with a Business Education degree.

Geno and Effie moved with their young son Jeff to Meteetse, WY, where he taught high school business and history. Two years later they moved to Plevna, MT where he was principal and business teacher. Their son Jim was born during this time. Geno enjoyed teaching high school and was honored by the senior class, when they dedicated their yearbook to him. He stayed in touch with many of those folks from Plevna the rest of his life.

In 1962, Geno returned to South Dakota for a working partnership on Cottonwood Ranch with Bill Ullmann. He jumped at the chance to return to ranching and the life he loved; later he was able to buy the ranch from the Ullmanns.

He moved Effie and their boys back to the ranch, just seven miles west of where he grew up, and that is where he lived for the remainder of his life, raising cattle and registered Quarter Horses, two sons, and lots of nephews, nieces, grandkids, hired men, and whoever needed a job, a meal, or a bed.

He hung on through down cattle markets, high interest rates, blizzards, droughts, grasshoppers, and prairie fires. He lost his beloved wife, Effie, in a car accident in 2006, just when they were ready to travel and enjoy retirement. He continued to ranch, and when his health began to fail, his grandkids took turns staying with him. For the last few years he was cared for by sons Jeff and Jim and their families. He continued to share his advice, stories and instructions, and direct his own affairs. He passed away still owning a good set of cows, a stud and a quality set of AQHA mares. He received the 50 Year Breeder award from the American Quarter Horse Association in 2017.

He was a member of Emmanuel Free Lutheran Church in Eagle Butte.

Geno was like a force of nature, larger than life. He was an old school cowboy, but he liked modern conveniences, like the telephone and television. He took good care of his cows, but was hard on equipment. He was generous to a fault, but stubborn, tenacious and tough. He was a natural athlete, good with numbers, and could carry his checkbook balance in his head. He did taxes for the neighbors for many years. He loved good horses, playing cards, watching rodeos, estate auctions, horse sales and calcuttas. He enjoyed his grandkids and was very proud of their accomplishments.

Geno is survived by his sons Jeff (Mitzi), Jim (Joni); his grandchildren: Jody, J.J.(Laura), Jakki (Jay Longbrake); Tom (Sage), Jessica, Justin (Erica), Joshua, Jordan, Jeb, Jana, J.T., Jimmie; great-grandchildren Daycen, Travis, Makenzie, Kayclynn, Kali, Kanton, Koy, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Hannah, Jackson, and Kayzli; seven sisters— Sharon Hannum, Shirley Adkison, Midge Tiokasin, Joni Nelson, Betsy Ducheneaux, Janice Eberhard, and Janet Campbell; one brother, Everett Hunt; and sisters-in-law, AnnaBelle Mortenson (Sam) and Lucille Kaiser Reid; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Effie; his parents Jack and Jennie Hunt; two sisters Lurene Rabern and Joan Webb; brothers-in-law Martin Webb, Dave Nelson, Carl Kaiser, and Lee Lopez; and an infant son.