Gene LeRoy Nelson of Rapid City died peacefully on June 3, 2023, after a recurrence of cancer.

Gene was born on July 5, 1950, in Iowa City, IA, to LeRoy and Jeannette (Jones) Nelson. Growing up in Vermillion, SD he graduated from high school there in 1968. He received his undergraduate degree in biology at the University of South Dakota and completed his master's degree in environmental studies there also.

Gene's professional interests centered on water quality management, and he served the South Dakota Environmental Protection Agency for many years. He spent the remainder of his career with the GCC Rapid City Cement facility, where he oversaw sustainability and environmental initiatives at the plant. Gene married Chris Gervais in 1982 and the couple lived and raised their three children in Rapid City.

Survivors include Gene's wife, Chris; daughter, Julie (Jordan) Esmay; son, Scott (Chanelle Joly) Nelson; daughter, Tina (Collin) Magner; granddaughters, Lena and Mia Esmay; sisters, Linda (Fred Scott) Blaisdell and Jessica (Howard Miller) Ball; nieces, Sarah Blaisdell Forster, Laura Lilienthal Blaisdell, and Carrie Ball; and nephew, Jason Ball. He was predeceased by his parents and a sister, Linda Jeannette Nelson, who died in infancy.

Gene loved being outdoors. Happy times were spent camping, fishing, turkey hunting, biking, hiking, skiing, and rock-hunting. He also enjoyed garage sales and bartering to get the very best deal. In retirement he enjoyed biking around Rapid to hunt asparagus and daily walks with his adopted outdoor cats. Dearest to his heart, however, was any opportunity to be with his granddaughters.

A memorial service will be held on June 17, 2023, at 10:30 am at Bible Fellowship Church in Rapid City, SD.