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Eugene "Gene" Paul Fleck • 1929 - 2010 Born on October 12, 1929, in Mandan ND to Joseph and Rose (Schmidt) Fleck, he was raised in Mandan, graduated from Mandan High School in 1948, and attended Capital Commercial College in 1949. In 1950, Gene joined the North Dakota Army National Guard. In 1951, he was called to serve in the Korean War with the 2nd Infantry Division Battery A-15TN Field Artillery. Gene was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant in 1953. After returning from military service, Gene started work for Cloverdale Foods in Mandan as a route salesman. In 1953, he transferred to take a route in Minot. It was working the Minot route where Gene made the sale of his life and took Ellen Adele Hess as his wife on June 2, 1954. Gene began work as a furniture salesman in 1956 at Budget Furniture in Minot, which turned out to be his calling. For the next 39 years he worked in the furniture business. In 1986, Gene achieved his dream and opened Gene’s Furniture & Mattress Store on Minot’s north hill. Gene and Ellen operated the store until their retirement in 1995. Gene was a kind and gentle man with a love for simple things. He was most happy sitting in his recliner, watching a good western, and enjoying a sweet treat. Gene was a member of Little Flower Catholic Church, Elks Lodge, American Legion, and SCORE (Senior Citizens Of Retired Executives). Surviving family: his wife of 55 years, Ellen; children, daughter Margaret Fleck of Carson, California; daughter Nancy Smith and her spouse Mark of Lewisville, Texas; daughter Carol Friddle and her spouse Steve of Minot; son Paul Fleck and spouse Darla of Buda, Texas; grandchildren, Christen Friddle of Nashville, Tennessee, Stephanie Friddle of Minot, Tricia Smith of Lewisville, Texas, Julie Fleck of Buda, Texas, and Zachary Fleck of Buda, Texas. Preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Lyle Fleck, James Fleck; sister June Knight. Funeral service: Friday, March 26, 2010, at 2:30 PM in Little Flower Catholic Church, Minot. Visitation and vigil prayer service: Visitation Thursday, March 25, from 2 PM until 7:30 PM with the vigil prayer service at 7:30 p.m. all at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot. Interment: Will be in Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot at a later date. Memorials are preferred to the Little Flower Catholic Church, Minot. Service Participants Music Active Bearers: Ken Gorze, Leroy Lawson, Terry Stevick, Andrew Wald, Paul Kalamaha Allen Olson Military Honors At The Cemetery: Accorded by the North Dakota National Honor Guard Following the funeral service everyone is invited to join the family for coffee, bars and fellowship in the school gymnasium, located directly south of the church. Our family would like to thank everyone for the many acts of kindness shown during this difficult time. Your thoughts, prayers and visits are deeply appreciated and will never be forgotten. May God bless the memory of Gene Fleck!
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Eugene “Gene” Paul Fleck, 80, Minot, N.D., died Saturday, March 20, 2010, in his home after a 10 year struggle with Pulmonary Fibrosis.