Eugene John Kniffen of Sturgis passed away on March 12, 2023, while in hospice care.

Gene was born in Running Water, SD, on April 9, 1937, to Clarence and Mary (Honner) Kniffen. He had three siblings, Denny, Margie, and Don.  He grew up helping his dad on the family farm before graduating from Vermillion High School in 1955.

After graduation, Gene enlisted in the Air Force and served as an aircraft mechanic in several different locations both home and abroad, including Okinawa and Turkey. He was proud of his service and enjoyed his travels around the world. He was part of the first crew that began in-flight refueling.

He married, Ann Rhodes in 1963, and they settled on a small ranch near Vivian, SD.  They moved to Sturgis, SD, in 1969.  Gene took a job with the South Dakota Highway Department where he worked for more than 25 years.  He also raised a small herd of cattle and supplemented his income by cutting hay.

Gene was a cowboy in the truest sense. As a young man, he participated in rodeos, riding bulls, competing in roping events and bronc riding.  He also loved the outdoors, going hunting, fishing and camping with friends and family.  Gene was a man of many talents, and even built the family home. He was a soft-spoken man but sit across from him with a cup of coffee and you would find he knew a little about a wide range of topics and had many interesting stories about his life.  Gene was an old-school gentleman, a lover of horses and dogs, a generous and loyal friend, a doting grandpa and the best Dad anyone could ask for. He was much loved and will be terribly missed.

Gene is survived by his brother, Don; his daughters, Janell (Mike) Simpkins, and Nancy Kniffen; and son, Monte (Robyn) Kniffen; grandchildren, Bryan, and Jessica Simpkins, and Clare, and Glen Kniffen.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Mary Kniffen, his sister, Margie Kniffen, and his brother, Denny Kniffen.

The family would like to invite everyone to a memorial celebration at the Sturgis Veterans Club on July 2, 2023, from 1-5 p.m. Committal services will be July 3, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions go to one of the charities that Gene supported: St. Joseph Indian School in Chamberlain, SD, (https://www.stjo.org) or the Wounded Warriors Project (https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org).