Gene Siirtola

Gene Siirtola, 76, passed away August 13, 2026. A graveside service will be held Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.  Following the graveside service there will be a Celebration of Gene's life at the Paddle Trap, 2500 Pirates Loop SE, Mandan.

Gene has officially retired from giving his opinions, telling his stories, and keeping everyone else on their toes.

He leaves behind a lifetime of memories, a whole lot of love, and probably a few stories that will never be told exactly the same way twice.

Gene had a way of making people laugh, even when he wasn’t trying to. He could turn an ordinary moment into a story worth remembering and somehow manage to leave his mark without making a big fuss about it.

He will be remembered for his humor, his heart, his stubborn streak, his kindness, and all those little things that made him unmistakably Gene.

There will be tears, of course. But there will also be laughter-and that’s exactly how Gene would want it. So tell the stories. Laugh at the memories. Maybe even shake your head and say, “Yep, that was Gene.”

His time here may be finished, but his presence isn’t going anywhere. He lives on in the people he loved, the lessons he left behind, and the memories that somehow get funnier every time they’re told.

Rest easy, Gene. You were loved, you were one of a kind, and you will be missed more than words can say.

He joins his mom, Eloise; his brothers, Sam, Bob and Rolly. To be remembered by his brother, Jimmy; sisters, Joanne, Joyce and Sandy; his number 1 son; Tim and his living wife, Melinda, and a whole lot of other relatives and friends. We will keep you in our hearts forever.