Eugene “Gene” Rafferty

Eugene “Gene” Rafferty,

83, Minot, formerly of

Mohall, died Thursday,

October 21, 2021 in a

Minot Hospital.

Eugene was born April

20, 1938 in Fargo, North

Dakota, the son of Elword

and Orpha (Ashley) Raf-

ferty. He was raised and

educated at Fargo Shanley

High, where he excelled

in basketball and football.

Following his schooling,

he entered into active

duty service with the U.S.

Navy and honorably

served his country on the

USS Plymouth Rock from

December 10, 1962 until

November 28, 1964.

Eugene was united in

marriage to Anna Mar-

garet Kopp. They moved

to Mohall, North Dakota,

where they owned and

operated a Tastee Freeze

and later began farming

while raising their five

children. Gene and Anna

were married for almost

30 years prior to their di-

vorce.

After moving to Minot

in 1990, he met Mary

Visina, who became his

loving partner and com-

panion until her death in

2009. He was proud of

his time working for Com-

munity Action Opportuni-

ties until he fully retired.

Gene was an avid golfer, a

lifelong Vikings fan and

had recently developed a

new fondness for cooking

and baking. May God

bless his memory.

His loving family in-

cludes, children, Karolee

(Bob) Larson, Butte, MT,

Paul (Sharon) Rafferty,

Bemidji, MN, James Raf-

ferty, San Diego, CA,

Kathy (Charles) Voldseth,

Orlando, FL and Rebecca

(Brian) Sandvall, Orlando,

FL; grandchildren: Emily,

Mathew, Joseph and

Olivia; William and Eliza-

beth; Dylan; Jesse and

Adam; Jacob and Katelyn;

great granddaughter, So-

phia; sister, Theresa (Dan)

Nelson, Fargo, ND and

several nieces, nephews

and cousins.

Gene was preceded in

death by his parents, his

former wife, Anna Meyer;

companion, Mary Visina;

and brother, John Raffer-

ty.

Memorial Service:

Thursday, October 28,

2021 at 11:00 a.m. in Tho-

mas Family Funeral

Home, Minot, ND.

Interment: Rosehill

Memorial Park, Minot

with Military honors ac-

corded by the U.S. Navy

and Minot American Le-

gion.

Visitation: At the

family’s request there will

not be a viewing, however

friends may sign the

memorial register book on

Wednesday from

5:00-7:00 p.m. in Thomas

Family Funeral Home,

Minot.

Those wishing to sign

the online memorial book

or share memories are in-

vited to

(www.thomasfamily

funeralhome.com)