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Funeral services will take place on Friday, December 18, 2015 at 10:00 AM (Mountain).

St. James Lutheran Church
Belle Fourche, South Dakota

Pine Slope Cemetery
Belle Fourche, South Dakota
A visitation will be held from 4 - 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 17, 2015 at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip.



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In memory of

Eugenia "Gene" Reinhardt

of Philip, South Dakota, died on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at the Philip Nursing Home at the age of 100

Eugenia "Gene" Reinhardt was born October 22, 1915 to Elizabeth and George Ruff in Ault, Colorado. They moved to Butte County in South Dakota when she was nine months old and she resided in various residences in Butte County throughout her remaining childhood and adult life until 2003 when she moved to the Hickory House in Spearfish.

She was the oldest of thirteen children of which three of those thirteen died in infancy leaving the family with ten children. Both of her parents migrated from Russia to the USA which gave her the German-Russian ethnicity. Being the oldest of ten children placed the responsibility of helping with all the daily chores involved in raising ten children and employing and boarding several hired men to help with their farm.

Eugenia went to college. She attended Spearfish College for one quarter and decided to go to beauty school in Deadwood. After completing her training in beauty school, she worked as a hairdresser in Deadwood. The very late 30's she and Ed decided they should marry so she quit her job and married Edward Reinhardt in April 1940.

They lived in Vale, SD, for a few years at which time Patsye was born. After Patsye was born in 1941, Ed purchased a farm in Arpan located 3 miles north of Nisland. Edward Jr. was born in 1946 and Gretchen was born in 1949 while living in Arpan. They continued to live in Arpan until the mid to late 70's. They sold their farm and retired in Newell in a two story home that once belonged to Eugenia's parents. Ed passed away in 1989 and Eugenia sold her two story house and moved to Belle Fourche in 1994. She lived in a duplex in Belle but later moved to an apartment in Belle. In 2003, she moved to the Hickory House in Spearfish. In 2005 she moved to Philip, South Dakota, and lived in the assisted living facility and the nursing home until her death.

Eugenia held a variety of jobs during her life. She was a beautician, and also worked in the Butte Co. Treasurer's Office. She was a hard worker and a gifted and talented lady. She was a gardener, raised flowers and vegetables and had a beautiful yard, even though a great deal of time was spent taking care of the farm animals.

But her greatest gift was that she was a wonderful cook. She cooked at one time for the Nisland School Lunch Program and also for the Belle Fourche Don Pratt Manor, and in her later years she and her sister Marie had the Cove Cafe in Newell. Many people looked forward to tasting her home cooking in that cafe.

She hosted many family gatherings and prepared many German dishes for her family members. She fried grebel (a German version of a rich donut made with sour cream and twisted into a knot) at her church bazaar in Newell and people flocked to come buy her grebel. Her ability to socialize and yet work hard made her truly an asset to her family, the church, and her community. She will dearly be missed.

Survivors include her son Edward Reinhardt, Jr., of Belle Fourche; her daughter Gretchen Phillips and her husband Gary of Philip; three grandchildren Nicholas and Nathan Phillips, and Laurie Gene Reinhardt; one great-granddaughter Zoey Jane; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Gene was preceded in death by her husband Edward Reinhardt in 1989; her daughter Patsye Reinhardt Hostler in 1971; four sisters Betty Glover, Marie Nissen, Dorothea Soldivini, and Shirley Turpin; five brothers George, Robert, Paul, Dale and Dave Ruff; three siblings in infancy; and a daughter-in-law, Lana Reinhardt.

VISITATION
Thursday, December 17, 2015
4 -6 p.m.
Rush Funeral Home
Philip, South Dakota

FUNERAL SERVICES
Friday, December 18, 2015
10:00 a.m.
St. James Lutheran Church
Belle Fourche, South Dakota
INTERMENT
Pine Slope Cemetery
Belle Fourche, South Dakota


Open the Memorial Folder

VISITATION
4-6 p.m. Thursday, December 17, 2015
Rush Funeral Home
Philip, South Dakota

FUNERAL SERVICES
10:00 a.m. Friday, December 18, 2015
St. James Lutheran Church
Belle Fourche, South Dakota
CLERGY
Pastor Jeff Otterman
Pastor Lauren Ley
MUSIC
Cynthia Finn - Pianist
Barb Bowen - Vocalist
"In The Garden"
"The Lord's Prayer"
"Rock of Ages"
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance
INTERMENT
Pine Slope Cemetery
Belle Fourche, South Dakota

  • Sharing in your sadness. What a wonderful, long life your Mom lived. May your many memories sustain you through the challenging days ahead. ~ Marcella Schroeder Hatfield Newell, SD (12/16/2015)
  • Gretchen & Gary
    Sorry to hear about your mother's death. Our prayers are with you and your family. We will be thinking of you and God Bless Our Friends.
    ~ Van & Cathy Simpfenderfer Wall, SD 57790 (12/16/2015)
  • I didn't get to know Gene for long, but we really had some fun conversations in the Silver leaf. I loved her sense of humor, and her sharp wit. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. Shirley ~ Shirley Chin Philip (12/15/2015)
  • Gary, Gretchen and family, we as so sorry for your loss. Deepest sympathies are with you all this time of great sorrow . Just so you know you have a lot of people who are here to be with you and pray for you . ~ Rick, Rhonda and Brynn & family Philip and Spearfish (12/15/2015)
  • Gretchen, Gary & Family:
    Sorry to learn of Gretchen's mother's passing. May the love of family and friends help comfort you at this time.     ~ Dave & Karen Webb Rapid City, SD (12/15/2015)
  • I am so happy I got to know your Mother a little bit while Mom was in the nursing home, and that I got to know you and Gary through her. She gave such a sense of quiet serenity wherever she was and you were so good to her. May God Bless you and your family as you say good-bye and bless her life with your love this final time. My sincere sympathy to all of you. ~ Mary Kay Sandal Howes/Philip (12/15/2015)
  • So sorry to hear about Gene. We are remembering all the good times we had together at Gary and Gretchen's and keeping you all in our thoughts at this sad times. She was a great lady and we all loved her a lot. Rest in Peace, Gene. You had a wonderful full life! ~ Cork & Bev Jahner Kerrville, Texas (12/15/2015)
  • What a special lady she was with that warn kind smile. Even though our German dialect was a little different we were able to converse with great enjoyment. Gretchen you were so fortunate to have such a sweet Mom. I can't help but feel she is really glad to be home and just be an angel with those who have gone before her. ~ Dorothy Hansen Philip SD (12/15/2015)
  • Our deepest sympathy in the loss of your Mother. May family and friends comfort you in this sad time. ~ Scott & Beth Kennedy Philip (12/15/2015)
  • Sooty to hear about our Mom. My thoughts & prayers are with you, Gary & family. ~ Janet Alderman Kerrville TX. (12/14/2015)