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Gene R. Thill
09-06-2026

Gene R. Thill, 93, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away peacefully on September 6, 2026, at the Ava House, surrounded by his family.

Gene was born in 1933, to Lawrence and Eva Thill. He attended school through the eighth grade before beginning his working life on the family farm near Dell Rapids. His strong work ethic would remain a defining part of who he was throughout his life. Gene worked for Swenson Plumbing & Heating and later for Sioux Falls Construction, where he helped build O’Gorman High School. In 1959, Gene began a 30-year career with John Morrell, where he worked until his retirement.

Gene proudly served his country in the United States Army, spending 18 months stationed in England after enlisting at the age of 21.

In May of 1956, Gene met the love of his life, Jackie. The two were married in December of that same year and began a partnership that would span nearly seventy years. Together, Gene and Jackie built a family filled with love, laughter, tradition and plenty of card games.

Gene was a longtime member of St. Joseph Cathedral Church. He was also a lifetime member of the American Legion, Moose Lodge and Knights of Columbus.

If there was music playing, Gene was likely ready to dance. He and Jackie enjoyed dancing at the Moose Lodge and at many of the area dance halls. Their home was also a gathering place for family and friends, where they loved hosting parties, especially Super Bowl parties. Friday nights often meant poker, and cards were simply part of life in the Thill household.

In fact, learning to play cards was practically a requirement in the Thill family. Gene played cards nearly every day. If nobody was visiting, he could always play solitaire. But if someone happened to stop by, Gene was usually successful in talking them into “just one game,” which inevitably turned into five. It would not be unusual for Gene to play 20 games of cards in a day. Sundays were slower for visits so Gene would talk Jackie into driving him to Flandreau to play the slot machines. As a matter of fact, they were just at the casino two weeks ago, and grandma had a hard time getting to him to leave because he was winning.

In Genes’ younger years, he had a mischievous side. Jackie still remembers a time he decided to ditch the cops to avoid a speeding ticket, pulling into a corn field. Gene was also known for pulling wheelies also known to most as cookies in most parking lots or down their gravel street during the winter months. You might be as surprised as his grandchildren learning of these stories. 

Later in life, Gene was a man of few words, but when he spoke you listened. He wanted to give sound advice and cared more than most even knew. He was quick witted and very sharp until the last days of his life. You were never able to get anything by him especially when playing cards.  

Gene had a lifelong love of the outdoors, particularly fishing, hunting and trapping. He fished the Missouri River, Lake Thompson and countless sloughs throughout South Dakota, always hoping to bring home a good walleye or a feisty northern pike. He also enjoyed many hunting trips over the years. According to his brother Darrell, Gene was a fantastic shot and has many mounts throughout his home to provide the evidence.

Genes’ creativity extended beyond the outdoors. He even held a patent for his own fish bite indicator, the “The Geno-Bite Indicator: Fish Tip-Up.” He sold the invention at Lewis Drug and thoroughly enjoyed talking with potential customers about his creation. Like many of Genes’ ideas, the fish bite indicator eventually evolved into another practical purpose: alerting him when the mailman had left a letter in the Thill mailbox.

Retirement did not slow Gene down. Instead, it gave him more time for one of his favorite pursuits, rummaging. Gene loved finding items at rummage sales that he could eventually sell at his own rummage sale. Every item had a story and cost, and Gene was passionate about finding just the right buyer for every treasure. He even developed his own code to keep track of how much profit he made on his purchases.

Gene and Jackie also loved to travel. In earlier years, they made trips to Mexico to bring home vanilla, gifts and chiclets for the family. They also spent 20 years, traveling to Texas. They enjoyed escaping the cold and welcoming visits from family and friends. Those Texas winters became an important and treasured chapter of their lives together.

At home, Gene found great enjoyment in the simple things. He loved feeding and watching the birds and squirrels in his backyard and tended a garden for more than 60 years. His garden, his birds, his fishing, his hunting, his card games and his stories were all pieces of the life he built and loved.

But above all, Gene loved his family.

Including his children, Brian (deceased) (Paula) Thill, Brad Thill, Deb (Alan) Schaefer, Diane (Dan) Steinberg; his grandchildren, Katie (David) Mouw, Kyle (Lindsey) Thill, Josh (Geriann) Thill, Jenny (Jason) Skotvold, Ryan (Brittany) Schaefer, Kari (Keith) Alverson, Jill (Andrew) Strom, Austin Rowley, Chad (Kristyne) Zuehlke, Justin (Steph) Steinberg, and Jason (Lacy) Steinberg; his great-grandchildren, Paisley, Josefina and Satynne Mouw, Lakin Thill, Isabella and Callen Thill, Gavin and Tenley Skotvold, Brynlee, Kayson, Tierney and Suttyn Schaefer, Kennedy, Connor and Caiden Alverson, Sawyer and Trey Strom, Siena Rowley, Bricelyn, Colt & Carlie Zuehlke, Landyn Dose and Kove Steinberg, Aleah and Luna Steinberg; his siblings, Bill (Sheryl) Thill, Dwaine (Joan) Thill, Elaine (Dick) Klundt, Cletus (Dodie) Thill and Darrell (Glenna) Thill; his sister-in-law, Sandy (Ron) Laughlin; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Brian Thill; siblings: Geraldine (Marv) Scholl, Marion Thill, Tom Thill and Terry Thill; and his parents, Lawrence and Eva Thill.

Gene leaves behind a family rich in memories. In the Thill household, you were expected to know how to hold your own in a card game and dance the night away. Gene made sure those traditions lived on.

He will be deeply missed by his family and friends, but his stories will continue to be told, his traditions will continue to be carried on, and his memory will remain in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

Our wishes for Gene. May the cards always be dealt in your favor, the fish always be biting, and the dance floor always have a place for you. We will truly miss you but know you are playing cards and enjoying a Miller Lite on ice with Brian in Heaven.

The family would like memorials directed to the following: Veterans Community Project: https://vcp.org/; Hooked on Hardwater: https://theclubforboys.org/hooked-on-hardwater/; and St. Joseph Cathedral: https://stjosephcathedral.net/.

Visitation will be Thursday, September 10, 9:00 AM at the Cathedral of St. Joseph with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow at St. Michael Cemetery with Full Military Rites.