Eugene "Gene" R. Jones

Eugene “Gene” R. Jones, 84 of Fargo, ND, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 14, 2025, at Lilac Homes, Moorhead, MN.

Gene was born in Elmwood, WI, on July 10, 1940, to Hugh and Buela (Morehouse) Jones. He grew up in Elmwood and graduated from Elmwood High School in 1958. He then moved to St. Paul and attended Northwestern Technical College, where he received a 2-year degree before accepting a position with IBM in Rochester, MN, in 1961. Gene married Janet (Piller) on August 21, 1965. IBM later granted Gene educational leave, so he and Jan moved to Fargo, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from North Dakota State University in 1970. They then moved back to Rochester, where they lived until Gene eventually retired from IBM after 30 years.

In 1995, Gene and Jan went on their first long-term mission trip where they worked with the Methodist Church to help refugees fleeing from the Rwandan Genocide in Zaire (now the D.R. Congo). They continued service work through Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) where Gene worked as a communication specialist to help remote areas access electronic communications until 2007. This volunteer work took them to Haiti and Afghanistan for four years each, and then shorter stints in Venezuela and Papua New Guinea. Following their work as missionaries, they made their home in Fargo.

Gene had a servant’s heart and was passionate about helping others. He loved nature and enjoyed camping trips with family to various locations across the country, along with hiking, canoeing, tennis, and telling funny stories. He was also active in Faith United Methodist Church in Fargo and enjoyed participating in the “Sing from Your Heart” Memory choir.

The family is grateful for the care and support provided by Lilac Homes, Hospice of the Red River Valley, Memory Café of the RRV, and Faith Methodist Church.

Gene is survived by his wife, daughters, Pamela Jones and Elizabeth (Jason) Smithmeyer, and granddaughter, Julia Smithmeyer. He was preceded in death by his parents and seven siblings.

A Celebration of Life with a meal to follow will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 12 p.m. at Faith United Methodist Church, Fargo, ND. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Memory Café of the RRV, Hospice of the RRV, Faith Methodist Church, or Mission Aviation Fellowship.

A livestream of the service will be available below.