Hamilton – January 3, 1932 in a cold and snowy storm, the doctor arrived by a horse drawn sleigh to greet Leland Gene Ayres into Wetonka, South Dakota. Gene was the last child to Rusty and Iva Ayres. He had two brothers, Frank Elsworth (Bud) and Ralph William (Rod), and two sisters, Frances Elva and Alta Mary (Babe). They were 20 years older than Gene. Their farm was outside the town of Wetonka and later moved to Frederick, SD (only a few miles away), where Gene grew up.
His Father ran the local Mill/Feed store. In these times he would often go to see his cousins in Barnard, 9 to 12 miles away by usually jogging or running. (There was not time nor money to haul your children around as we do now.) In school, Gene participated in baseball and basketball (there was not money enough for football uniforms, so – no football). He graduated from Frederick High School in 1949; it was the largest class due to a set of quadruplets.
Upon graduating, Gene and his friend joined a “Combining” Crew heading south for the summer. One farm was in a corner where they would go through Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma (I think), with each trip around. The summer was a wet one and not making the money they had hoped for, they returned to Frederick. He soon met Irene Delores Begin in Ellendale, ND. They were married and then moved to Hamilton, Montana where their first daughter, Sandra Lynn, was born.
The family moved to California where Gene became a Machinist in the San Francisco Peninsula. Their second daughter, Karen Ann, was born in Redwood City, CA. They moved to Idaho Falls, ID where Gene spent time at the “Site” and also a short time in Dillon, MT before moving back to Northern California when his mother passed away. Both girls graduated from high school in the Bay Area and Gene became a well acknowledged Machinist in the Silicon Valley area. In time, Irene developed cancer and passed away in 1976.Gene was working at Optical Coating Laboratory in Santa Rosa, CA where he met Rita Dianne Eby. They were married June 21, 1978 and soon moved to Hamilton, MT. Dianne had two teenagers, a daughter, Tawny Ellen, and a son, Wesley Everett. Tawny elected to stay in Santa Rosa and Wes moved to Montana with Gene and Dianne.
Alternative Machining was opened in Hamilton in 1982. Gene was the sole proprietor working a variety of jobs including aerospace, fishing tying machine, numerous log home manufactures and of course repair work. He had a wonderful ability to develop a solution to a client’s need. The coffee pot was always on and he welcomed company to share it.
Gene loved hunting, going over to the Blacktail outside Dillon to Buster and Helen’s with brother-in-law, Howard. Many, many great hours were spent with Howard and his wife Marilyn and then David, his son, when it was antelope season. He was a Life Member of NRA and also an Endowment Member. He and Dianne were among a few who got together and formed the Bitterroot Gem and Mineral Society in 1982. They enjoyed the entire span of being rockhounds; from finding the rocks, through creating belt buckles, bolo ties and jewelry.
Gene was a member of Grace Lutheran Church from 1980 to present. He and Dianne raised many animals including cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, ducks, chickens, rabbits and several dogs (Gyp and Ringo) to Shiloh now and cats (Buggs, who came with their home and later Kitty).
In 2008 Gene suffered a stroke, ending his Machinist career. The dementia increased and went into Alzheimer’s ending with a move to Valley View Estates Nursing Home, where he has been since May 5, 2012.
Gene is survived by his wife, Dianne of 36 years; his two daughters, Sandie and husband Ron Morgan and Karen Ayres, all of Lakeport, CA; his stepdaughter, Tawny and husband Andy Agudelo of Bend, OR; stepson, Wes and wife Shawna Eby of Kennewick, WA; his grandchildren, Rebecca and husband Brian Fishthrum of Rocklin, CA; Tavo de la Mora of Everett, WA, Anna de la Mora of Lake Stevens, WA, Shibumi and wife Rio Tatsuta of Osaka, Japan; Tatjana Agudelo and fiancé, Jamie Crawford of Bend, OR; Nick Eby (with US Marines) in Okinawa, Japan; Bianca Agudelo and boyfriend, Mark Olsen of Portland, OR; Connor Eby of Kennewick, WA, Ryan Eby of Kennewick, WA; great-grandson, Kameron (Duncan) Fishthrum of Rocklin, CA; and great-granddaughter, Raegan (Duncan) Fishthrum of Rocklin, CA; sisters-in-law, Marilyn Begin of Dillon, MT and Marge Ayres of Woodland, CA; nephews and nieces, David and wife Vickie Begin of Wheatland, WY, Joe and wife Gayle Begin of Dillon, MT, Tom Minch and wife of Grass Valley, CA, Mary Alice and husband Lee Shilman of Albany, CA, Pat and husband Eldon Brownell of Biggs, CA, Ann Wood of Rio Linda, CA, Audrey Angeledes of Reno, NV, Nicky and husband Frank Feister of Reno, NV, Rook and wife Sonnie Aronson of Santa Rosa, CA, and Kay and husband Gene Clark of Cool, CA; and all their families.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 3 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church on Hattie Lane in Hamilton with Pastor Vern Sandersfeld officiating. There will be a reception following at the church. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.