Eugene Grabin, age 86, of Gann Valley, died Monday, December 2, 2024, at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Woonsocket. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Foothills Bible Fellowship Church in Wessington Springs. A meal and time of fellowship will follow at the Springs Inn Cafe.
Eugene “Gene” William Grabin was the first born to Ruth (Winchester) and Rexford Grabin on January 14, 1938. He was born at home in Jerauld County in a blizzard. His Uncle Jay (Rex’s brother) went in the storm to get the Doctor. Jay always said he saved Gene’s life. Gene passed away peacefully on December 2, 2024. Gene was raised on the family farm. He learned hard work and a love for the great outdoors. Upon graduating from high school, Gene went into the Air Force. He served from 1956 to 1960. He proudly wore his Air Force Veteran hat every day and would tell tales of his service days. He earned his electrician’s license from Long Beach State College. Gene worked various places as an electrician and was at Big Bend Dam for 32 years before his retirement.
HemarriedCarol(Baldwin) on May 27, 1962, marking 62 years together before his passing. Son Scott Douglas was born on August 9, 1964, and Jennifer Ruth on August 1, 1974. He was the type of dad to take the time after a long day of work to play a board game or go for a bike ride. He was the type of friend to drop everything and go help if it was needed.
Gene would garden, fish, backpack, bicycle and kayak when it was warm. Some of his fondest memories were backpacking in Colorado with his brothers Gary and Lyle. In the colder months he enjoyed hunting and even built three wooden kayaks in the basement. Speaking of the colder months, Gene was known to have the fastest, steel, runner sled in Gann Valley. He was always up for a challenge against the kids on his old sled. He was also a volunteer fireman and a Mason.
Gene liked a good joke and not surprisingly Halloween and April Fool’s Day were his favorite times of year. One of his favorite lines was “man, there are a lot of ugly people here”, and most of the time this was said at family gatherings. He was known to throw on a disguise to try and “trick” unsuspecting people in the community out of candy, or if he was lucky, beer. Although we tried, none of us were rarely able to get one past him on April Fool’s Day.
Grandchildren were the light of Gene’s universe. After retiring, grandchildren needed tending, so Gene began his second career as babysitter extraordinaire. Whenever Papa was needed, he would make the journey to Hartford. He attended many field trips, taekwondo practices and meets, soccer games and dance recitals. He would often send letters in the mail to his “employer” hoping for a raise or would simply write, “you owe me money”. Papa, however, still came when called even if the wage wasn’t sufficient. When it became a question of who was babysitting whom, Papa hung up his babysitting hat and opted for the simpler life of bird watching, cat holding and became a hot chocolate connoisseur.
Gene moved into Prairie View Care Center in Woonsocket, SD, in February of 2022, and he would remain here until his passing.
Gene is survived by his wife Carol, son Scott (Cynthia) and daughter Jennifer (Patrick) Cuka. Grandchildren Eric, Michael, Brandon (Autumn) and Lemuel (Sandy) Grabin. Gunnar, Sophie and Vivienn Cuka. Two greatgrandchildren, Landry and Willow Grabin. Brother Lyle (Gail) Grabin and sisters Vicki (Alex) Evans and Arlette (Cliff) Brotherton, as well as his “other sisters” Jeanette (Tracy), Joy Eilertson and June (Dean) Geiman. Sisters-in-law Judy Baldwin and Gayla (Pete) Crain and various nieces and nephews.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents Rexford and Ruth, brothers Ronnie and Gary and brother-in-law Lee Baldwin along with his “other sisters” Della Abraham and Iona Yost.
For those unable to attend in person, the funeral will be livestreamed Thursday on the church’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ oursaviorsws Arrangements are with Basham Funeral Service.
