Eugene Marshall Banks 1936 - 2014

BANKS, MARSHALL, OLSON

Posted By: Connie J Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/3/2015 at 00:20:33

Mapleton Press
1 January 2015

Eugene Marshall Banks died Dec. 23 in Rochester, Minn. He was born at home Feb. 4, 1936, in rural Oto, during a hazardous snowstorm. He was the son of Ed and Dorothy (Marshall) Banks.

Before Gene started school, the family moved to rural Mapleton on what became the family farm. He graduated from Mapleton High School with the class of 1955. On Oct. 15, 1958, Gene entered the United States Army. He was stationed primarily in Hawaii where, because of his stature, was chosen to serve in the Color Guard. This led to a picture of Gene in formation near President Eisenhower. He was honorably discharged Sept. 16, 1960.

On June 23, 1962, Gene was united in marriage to Elaine Olson at the Castana Community Church. The couple first made their home west of Mapleton near Gene’s parent’s farm. He worked for a time as a mechanic. He then started farming with his father, moved onto the family farm, and finally purchased it in 1972. Eleven years ago, Gene and Elaine built a new home near by. He retired from farming in 2000.

For nine years, Gene worked for the Woodbury County Parks Department with his primary responsibility being the care of Fowler and Southwood Parks, a job he thoroughly enjoyed. His grandkids still refer to those parks as “Grandpa’s Parks.”

Gene was an active volunteer in his community and county, having served on the Castana Community Church Board, where he was a long time member. He also served on the ASC Township Committee, the Monona County Fair Board, and was a Maple Township Trustee. Gene was recognized as the first Monona County Tree Farm and received the Marc Cox Soil Conservation Award, demonstrating his dedication to the care of the land, a tradition handed down by his father.

He was a member of the American Legion Loren Hollister Post #496 of Mapleton and a regular at the morning coffee clan meeting at the Beef N Brew. Over the last 15 months, Gene and Elaine have been helping out at the Mapleton Greenhouse, which their granddaughter, Ally Lloyd, now owns. With family as his priority, Gene definitely embraced his role as a Grandpa with a special love for all his grandchildren.

Those family members left to treasure their memories of Gene include Elaine, his wife of 52 years; two daughters and their husbands, Denise and Kevin Kimbrough of Oak Grove, Mo., and Darla and Travis Lloyd, living on the family farm near Mapleton; five grandchildren, Ally Jo, Ethan, and Alexa Lloyd, all of Mapleton, and Kolson and Kiaya Kimbrough at home in Oak Grove, Mo.; one brother and his wife, Robert “Bob” and Bonnie Banks of Mapleton; one sister, Detta Stark of Anchorage, Alaska; three sisters-in-law, Loretta (Doug) Collison, Marlene (Lonnie) Campbell all of Onawa, and Deb Clark (Larry Swank) of Kellerton; one brother-in-law, Dwight Olson of Whiting; six nieces; eight nephews; several great-nieces and nephews; and many good friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Roberta Anderson, and her husband, Andy; and one niece, Roxanne Campbell.

Funeral Service: Saturday, Dec. 27, 2 p.m., Castana Community Church, Castana.

Officiating: Pastor Karen Handke and Pastor Linda Boggs.

Message in Music: Benita Davis, pianist, and Dick Chrestensen, soloist and guitarist. “How Great Thou Art” and “In The Garden.”

Pallbearers: Gene’s nephews – Mike Collison, Bill Collison, Brad Collison, Dennis Collison, Tim Collison, Chris Collison, Troy Campbell, Edwin Anderson.

Visitation: Friday, Dec. 26, 4-8 p.m. Vigil Wake Service at 7 p.m. Armstrong Funeral Home, Mapleton.

Military Honors & Interment: American Legion Loren Hollister Post #496, Mt. Hope Cemetery, Mapleton.

Following the interment, everyone was invited to return to the church for a time of sharing food and fellowship.

Armstrong Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.