On Memorial Day, May 28, 2007, Eugene Gilbert, age 88, started his new life whole and complete and now has perfect hearing. He walks upright and shares his humor with his master and savior, Jesus Christ. His funeral service will be at 10:00 AM Thursday, May 31st at the First Baptist Church in Huron with Rev. Ken Hunt officiating. Burial will be at Altoona Cemetery at Hitchcock. Friends may call Wednesday afternoon from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at the Welter Funeral Home and from 6:30 to 8:00 PM at the First Baptist Church with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM or prior to the service at the church Thursday morning. Eugene Gilbert was the third boy born to Florence Ruth Payne and Ira David Gilbert on April 28, 1919, in Hitchcock. He grew up in Hitchcock and graduated from Hitchcock High School. He farmed in the Hitchcock area from 1940 until 1961. He then worked in the Hitchcock High School as a custodian from 1961 until his retirement. On August 25, 1994, Eugene married Sarah Waldner Reed at Huron. They have lived in Huron since that time. He enjoyed gardening, playing cards, being active in their church, taking flowers to the nursing home and visiting with family and friends. He had taken a very active role in his grandchildrens lives and they will always cherish the great memories they have with him. He was a hard worker, always strived to be a good Christian, and had a great love for our country. His sense of humor will be missed greatly and his love for life will be missed as well. Eugene had a very full life with the last 12 years being married to the love of his life, Sarah. Survivors include his doting wife, Sarah of Huron; son, Don Gilbert of Spearfish, SD; daughters, Lois (Dennis) Finnegan of Rapid City, SD, Janice (James) Brockel of Ft. Collins, CO, Shirley (Daniel) Steele of Ft. Collins, CO, Nan (Loyd) Whatley of Belle Fourche, SD and Pam (Doug) North of Huron; foster children, Geraldine (Norman) Wipf of Huron, Diane Aichleman of Ft. Collins, CO, Donald Heffele of California and Richard and Ronnie Heffele; 19 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; brother, David (Marguerite) Gilbert of Fridley, MN; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and 4 brothers, Harold, Alan, Frank, and Willis Gilbert. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society and the American Diabetes Association.