Gene Ficek, 76, of Spearfish, SD, passed away on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at his home in Spearfish, SD.

Gene was born on May 8, 1947, in Dickinson, ND, a son of Laudie and Mildred (Kostelecky) Ficek.  He attended school in Dickinson, graduating from Dickinson High School, later graduating from North Dakota State School of Science with a degree in Building Construction Technology.  Gene joined the United States Navy where he was a member of the Seabees.  He completed two tours in Vietnam and was honorably discharged in 1971.

Yvonne Sadowsky was the girl in Dickinson who caught Gene's eye, and the two were married on May 27, 1968.  In 1971, Gene and Yvonne moved to Belle Fourche, SD where Gene took a job with Lampert Building Center.  Gene established Gene's Lock Shop in April of 1973 and he and Yvonne moved the business and their family to Spearfish in 1981. Gene owned and operated the lock shop for nearly forty years, retiring in December of 2012.

Gene was a past member of the Elks and Lions Clubs and past president of the Wyoming Locksmiths Association. He enjoyed horseshoe pitching and was the coordinator for the World Horseshoe tournaments in Spearfish in 1989 and 1993. Gene also enjoyed traveling with his wife Yvonne. Those left to mourn his passing are his wife, Yvonne Spearfish, SD; two daughters, Suzanne (Peter) DeLaPlante, Buffalo, NY and Lisa (David Ermish), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and his four grandchildren, Sedjro Noah-Gbaguidi Ficek, Elsie Medesse-Gbaguidi Ficek, Michael DeLaPlante and Morgan DeLaPlante.  Gene was preceded in death by his parents.

A memorial visitation will be held from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Sunday, June 4, 2023, at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish.  A committal service with full military honors will be at 9:00 AM on Monday, June 5, 2023, at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD.  A celebration of Gene's life will follow at the Spearfish City Park shelter close to the Fish Hatchery in Spearfish.  Bring your best Gene stories to share!  Those wishing to go in procession to Black Hills National Cemetery are asked to be at the Fidler-Isburg Funeral Home in Spearfish at 8:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to South Dakota Public TV, Vore Buffalo Jump, Spearfish Veterans Memorial, The D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery and the High Plains Western Heritage Museum.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish, SD.