Gene Ridderbush

Gene H. Ridderbush, age 91, of Colby, passed away while surrounded by his family on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019, at The Waterford at Colby.

A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, at Life Tributes Funeral Home in Spencer with Rev. Mark Neumann presiding. Family and friends were invited to gather at the funeral home on Monday from 9 a.m. until the time of service. Private committal services will be held at a later time. Gene’s pallbearers were Michael, Steve, Matthew Johnson, John and Bryan Beck and Michael Perkins. His honorary pallbearer will be 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. Gene and Mae owned and operated a dairy farm in rural Abbotsford while raising their five children.

His 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.

He 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-Spencer. Please visit www. lifetributesfuneralhome.com to share thoughts and condolences.

Paid obituary 83011