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Funeral services for Gene Allen, 73, Selby, SD, will be 10:30 AM, Friday, June 29, 2012 at the Selby United Methodist Church with Pastor Elizabeth Jassmann leading the service. Burial follows at Selby Memorial Gardens. Organist will be Sharon Wolff and the congregation will sing “How great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace, how sweet the Sound”. Soloist Trudy Bieber will sing “In the Garden” and “Going Home”. Ushers will be Keith Lemburg and Everett Russell.

Visitation will be at Lien Funeral Chapel, Selby, from 5:00-9:00 PM Thursday and resumes at the Church 9:30 Am Friday.

Eugene Dale Allen, son of Mabel (Chesky) and Cecil Allen, was born prematurely in a car traveling from Selby to the hospital in Mobridge, SD on April 16, 1939. Gene was born with infantile cerebral palsy. He spent most of his life in Selby although when he was a young boy he wintered in the south with his mother and stepfather, Bill Roberts. Due to ill health, Mabel and Gene lived in the Bowdle Hospital and Nursing Home and the Mobridge Care Center. In 1983, Gene settled at the Selby Good Samaritan Center. This proved to be his final move. When able, Gene rode his three wheel bike all over Selby visiting with his many friends and relatives. Gene loved his life at the Good Samaritan Center, especially enjoying the many activities. He kept a watchful eye on the residents to keep them safe. Gene lived three times longer than medical professionals predicted and in that time he touched many lives and was loved by all who knew him. At the Good Samaritan Center Tuesday morning, June 26, 2012 Gene went to his heavenly home where he was greeted by his many Chesky relatives.

Gene is survived by these cousins: Charlotte (Bert) Martin of Groton, SD, Ton (Teresa) George of Federal Way, WA, Kathy (Cal) Bohle and Ben Checky of Selby, Nita (Chuck) Hyde of Bend, OR, Jackie (Doug) Hart of Huron, SD, Pam (Gary) Fliehs of Mobridge, Avon (Jerry) Stotz of Lemmon, SD, Charley (Becky) Johnson of Hosmer, SD, Sue Harter of Sioux Falls, SD, Janet O’dell of Albuquerque, NM, and Jack (Pattie) Chesky of St. George, Utah. Gene loved all his relatives, however Charlotte was probably the closest to him as they were raised together.

He was preceded in death by his father in 1940, his mother on March 20, 1980, his stepfather, and all 13 of his mother’s siblings.

Honorary bearers will be the Good Samaritan Society’s staff and residents.

Casketbearers will be Marv Kindel, DeEtta Gustafson, Ben Chesky, Jim Marin, Cal Bohle, and Fred Carpenter all of Selby.

Thank-you, Gene, for giving us your warm smile and loving ways!

Lien Funeral Home, Bowdle, is in charge of arrangements.