EUGENE CARDA

Eugene “Gene” Joseph Carda of Rapid City, passed away peacefully on August 29 in the loving care of St. Martins Nursing Home and Monument Health Hospice in Rapid City, at the age of 94.

Eugene was born December 4, 1930 in Dante to Jim and Pauline (Melmer) Carda. Eugene attended Rural County School through the 8th grade. He then began farming with his two brothers, Wes and Steve. In December 1951, he joined the US Air Force. After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, he spent his remaining four years of service at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City.

In 1951, Eugene met the love of his life, Lois Stone. After four years of dating, they married on August 24,1954 at the Assumption Catholic Church in Dante. They decided to put down roots in Rapid City. It was there they built their first and only home, where they lived together for 63 years. Together they welcomed three children to complete their family, Denise, Valerie, and Mark.

Eugene worked for and retired from Black Hills Power and Light, where he worked in the warehouse for 34 years. During that time, Eugene and Lois also acquired the KP Drive In, which they ran for several years. As if that wasn’t enough, Eugene also taught himself how to do taxidermy, a side hustle that he loved and excelled at. For years, with the help of his son Mark, he sold beautifully crafted pheasants on Ebay. He was a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rapid City, as well as, a 4th League Knights of Columbus. He was actively involved in the events they sponsored, his favorite helping to serve Thanksgiving dinner.

Eugene was a committed fan of the Minnesota Vikings, as well as, the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He loved the outdoors. He was an avid hunter, and remained so until recent years, shooting two geese with one shot at the age of 90. He also enjoyed fishing, rock hunting, and loved spending time in his garden. Even after, in his time at Echo Ridge, he was a part of the community garden there. He had a green thumb, blessing many family members and neighbors with the products of that passion.

In retirement, Eugene and Lois were fortunate to spend many summers in Alaska fishing for salmon and exploring the beautiful countryside. They traveled to all 50 states in their time together, and often in the comfort of their very small pop-up pickup camper. Many might have asked how they lived in there for months at a time, but all that mattered (as Eugene would tell you) is that they were together.

Because at the core, he was a man who put his family above everything else. He believed that there was nothing more important; he made every effort and created opportunities to be there for each and every one of them. His family will all affectionately miss his “words of wisdom” and his soft knowing smile.

Thankful for having shared his life are his beloved wife of 71 years, Lois, his children, Denise (Dwight) Null, Cheyenne, WY; Valerie Jensen, Omaha, NE; Mark (Penny) Carda, Rapid City; grandchildren; Jason (Amber) Conrick, Nathan (Jenn) Conrick, Jessica (Louis) Hall, Aric Jensen, Maren Jensen, Dana (April) Jensen, Kari (Cody) Nielsen, and Joshua (Jenece) Carda, as well as, 12 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Marie Rada (Robert), and brothers Wes, Lewis (Betty), and Steve (Dolores).