Gene H. Ridderbush

1928-2019

Gene H. Ridderbush, 91, of Colby, passed away while surrounded by his family on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019 at The Waterford in Colby. A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23 at Life Tributes Funeral Home in Spencer with Rev. Mark Neumann officiating. Family and friends were invited to gather at the funeral home on Monday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. Private committal services will be held at a later time. Gene’s pallbearers were Michael, Steve and Matthew Johnson, John and Bryan Beck and Michael Perkins. His honorary pallbearer was Christopher Brecke.

Gene was born on April 10, 1928 in the town of Holton, the son of Herman and Viola (Johnson) Ridderbush. He attended Pine Valley Country School in Deer Creek. On Feb. 12, 1955, he was united in marriage to Mae Belle Bremer at the Community Evangelical Church in Medford. Together they owned and operated a dairy farm in rural Abbotsford while raising their five children.

Gene’s hobbies included tending and caring for flowers and vegetables for a local greenhouse as well as caring for his own vegetables and beautiful flowers of every kind. He was always willing to help neighbor farmers with tractor work. His children remember their dad spending time and playing with them “in between chores of course”. Gene and Mae also enjoyed traveling together.

Gene is lovingly survived by his five children, Dennis Ridderbush of Mobile, Ala., Lynn (Dan) Beck of Phillips, Sherry (Dennis) Johnson of Abbotsford, Pamela (Kenneth) Geiger of Dorchester and Lori (Chris) Perkins of Athens; his 11 grandchildren, Mike Johnson, John Beck, Steve Johnson, Bryan Beck, Christene Burg, Matthew Johnson, Jenny Beck, Christopher Brecke, Stephanie Brecke, Michael Perkins and Brittany Perkins; and his 12 great-grandchildren, Megan and Nicole Beck, Olivia and Garrett Burg, Abby, Stella and Natalie Beck, Madisen Johnson, Austin, Zayla and Zenley Johnson and Jackson Perkins along with other relatives and friends.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mae who passed away in 2016; two sisters, Shirley Kelly and Joyce Pitzke; and one brother, Donald Hander.

Gene’s arrangements are under the care of Life Tributes Funeral Home in Spencer. Please visit www. lifetributesfuneralhome.com to share thoughts and condolences.

Paid Obituary 83079