Eugene G. Cheever

RAPID CITY - Eugene G. "Gene" Cheever, 82, passed away Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011, at Westhills Village Health Care.

He was born Dec. 30, 1928, to Herbert and Margaret (Williams) Cheever in Brookings. Gene played sports through high school, excelling in football and track. He won several individual state titles in track and was inducted into the Brookings High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. After graduating from high school, Gene attended South Dakota State University. He was the starting halfback on the undefeated 1950 SDSU football team and won several individual North Central Conference track championships. He obtained his Master's Degree in Physical Education at the University of Illinois.

While attending SDSU, Gene met the love of his life, JoAnn Coughlin. He and JoAnn were united in marriage on June 18, 1952, and moved to Mitchell, where Gene was the head football Coach at Dakota Wesleyan College. After two years at Dakota Wesleyan, Gene and JoAnn moved to Watertown, where he coached high school football for two years. In 1956, Gene and JoAnn moved to Belle Fourche, where he started his career in the brick industry, working for Black Hills Clay Products. After purchasing the company in 1972, he also purchased the Hebron Brick Company in North Dakota. In 1974, the Cheever family moved to Dickinson, N.D. After retirement in 1989, Gene and JoAnn moved to their cabin on Hanna Creek in their beloved Black Hills. They split time between their winter home in Sun Lakes, Ariz., and the cabin.

In his leisure time, Gene enjoyed working around the cabin and traveling. His loving and giving nature created long-lasting friendships throughout his life. Traveling and visiting with friends and family brought great joy to Gene.

Celebrating their time with Gene, are his wife of 58 years, JoAnn; their four children, Pat (Peggy) Cheever, Castle Rock, Colo., Dan (Janet) Cheever of Eden Prairie, Minn., Todd (Judy) Cheever of Brandon, and Tim (Vonna) Cheever, Rapid City; eight grandchildren, John (Megan), Kelli, Nicole, Alison, Cory, Erin, Jared, and Eli; and two brothers, Allen (Jane) Cheever of Bethesda, Md., and Herbert (Sydna) Cheever of Minneapolis.

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 17, at Our Lady Chapel, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help with the Rev. William Zandri presiding.

Inurnment will be at a later date in Brookings.

A memorial has been established for Make A Wish Foundation of South Dakota.

His online guestbook is available at www.osheimschmidt.com.