Gene O. Dyste, 84, of Churchs Ferry, ND left his beloved wife, Agnes, and family suddenly on Christmas morning, 2021. Gene was born on November 15, 1937, in Maddock, ND to Carl B., Sr. and Addie (Nelson) Dyste. Gene developed an entrepreneurial spirit at a very early age. At 10 years old he was hiring out his services to community members charging a nickel for running errands, feeding chickens, and doing dishes. Throughout his high school years, he worked at the Maddock Creamery before school and the movie theater into the late night. Shocking grain was added to his jobs in the summer. Gene used his earnings to purchase his mother and father their first refrigerator.
At the tender age of 18, Gene and his brother, Carl, purchased the Crossroads, a gas station and restaurant at the junction of highways 2 and 281. A short time later he married the love of his life, Agnes Thomas, who then joined him at the Crossroads. Together they ran the Crossroads for another 53 years as a true “family” business. Gene’s and Carl’s parents were brought into the business as were their children, multiple nieces, nephews, and area high school students and adults who found employment at the Crossroads. Gene and Carl operated the Churchs Ferry School District bus routes for many years and transported students daily to and from school and various events. Few people in the greater Churchs Ferry area were not touched by having known Gene. Many middle-of-the-night calls to deliver fuel when someone’s furnace ran out were answered. Multiple trips were made to deliver a can of gas when someone’s tank ran out on the road. Gene was a self-made man of integrity who worked hard throughout his life.
Gene did everything he could to enrich the lives of his wife and daughters. In the 1950s, with his brother, he purchased a little lot on Pelican Lake in Manitoba, Canada. Gene and his brother and brother-in-law then built a cabin where memories of fishing, swimming, skiing, and snowmobiling were made. Two-week tenting vacations happened every summer to places such as the Black Hills, Glacier National Park, and Spooner Lake, Wisconsin. Gene treasured his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was quick to teach lessons in how to count change to customers, scoop minnows, and change tires. He offered rides on his lawn tractors, snuggles in his chair, and shared his hunting and fishing equipment. Gene was a man who cared deeply for and cherished his family.
When the rising waters of Devils Lake made it impossible for them to stay in Churchs Ferry, Gene and Agnes moved their home to a 10-acre field on higher ground and started over by leveling, picking rocks, and planting grass and trees. Gene never met a tree he didn’t like to plant right up through his last summer. He loved fishing and hunting in his younger years.
Gene adored and is survived by his wife of 65 years, Agnes, his daughters Karen (Jeff) Sjoberg of Prairie du Chien, WI, Lori (Jon) Jury of Valley City, ND, Trudie (Dennis) Neurohr of Dickinson, ND, his sister Bonnie Grimes of Missoula, MT, grandchildren Blake (Cassie) Sjoberg, Joshua Masterson, Lance (Chelsea) Straabe, Brett (Heidi) Sjoberg, Jesse (Trever Hill) Masterson, Kayla (Dan) Cash, Jeremiah (Lindsey) Masterson, Kelley (Joe Breeser) Sjoberg, Lucas Jury, step-granddaughters Megan (Derrick) Lewis and Erica Kuntz, eight great-grandchildren, three great step-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Gene is also survived by his lifelong friend from childhood, David “Pete” Anderson. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Doris, his granddaughter, Kristie, his sister and her husband, Fern and Kenneth Burcham, his son-in-law Ralph Masterson, his brother and his wife Carl and Beverly, and his brother-in-law Bruce Grimes.
Gene’s passing has left many broken hearts and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends. A memorial service for Gene will be held in the spring on a date to be announced.
Comments