05/12/2018 - Gene L. Brice

Funeral services for 91-year old Gene L. Brice will be Saturday, May 12, 2018, at 10:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Hay Springs, Nebraska.
Burial will be at the Hay Springs City Cemetery.

A memorial has been established for the Hay Springs Fire Department.
Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Drabbels, PO Box 443, Hay Springs Nebraska 69347.

Online condolences may be left at www.chamberlainchapel.com

Gene L. Brice was born to Ralph and Josephine Brice in Gordon Nebraska on April 25, 1927, and passed away on May 6th, 2018 in Hay Springs, Nebraska.
Gene attended school in Gordon graduating, enlisting in the Navy after graduating in 1945.  He had boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois, then transferred to the 109th Seabee Construction Battalion and was shipped out to the South Pacific, spending most of the time in Guam.

After the service he married the love of his life, Bonnie Fankhouser, on March 31, 1948. They were married 62 years until she passed away in 2010.

Gene worked North of Gordon on a ranch for a while. When they started building REA lines in this country, Gene went to work for the contractor in 1949. In 1950 the REA co-op hired him for $1.00 an hour for a 48 hour week as a lineman and he stayed with them until his retirement 38 years later.

Gene and Bonnie had four children, Sandra, Lyle, Donna and Rick. They have 11 grandchildren, and 26 great grandchildren.

Gene was involved in the Boy Scouts for many years, belonged to the Hay Springs Fire Department for 18 years, and served on the city council for 9 years. After his retirement he started a saw sharpening business which he really enjoyed.

He always took pride in everything he did and always did a good job. He was a man of his word and his handshake was always as good as a contract.

Gene is survived by his children Lyle (Trudy) Brice of Sheridan, Wyoming, Donna (Bob) Johnson of Hay Springs, Nebraska, Rick (Donna) Brice of Chadron, Nebraska, son-in-law Dave Perkins of Hay Springs, Nebraska, his sister Dorthy of Rapid City, South Dakota. His grandchildren Jason, Justin, Jennifer, Colter, Kassidy, Trisha, Amber, Keith, Brandy, Tori, and Kyle, and his 26 great-grandchildren.

Gene was proceeded in death by his mother, father, sister Ramona, brother John, wife Bonnie, and daughter Sandra Perkins.

Chamberlain Drabbels is in charge of arrangements for Gene L. Brice.