Gene Warren Porter

Gene W. Porter, 91, of Fergus Falls, died August 14, 2018 at Pioneer Pointe in Fergus Falls, surrounded by family following a brief illness.

“Doc” Porter was born September 5, 1926, in Parkerville, KS, the son of Alfred and Emma (Haucke) Porter. He attended high school in Council Grove, KS. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corp from 1944 through 1946, and graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, in 1950.

On August 20, 1950, Gene married Dorothy Long in Manhattan, KS. Then they moved to Fergus Falls, where Gene practiced Veterinary Medicine for the next 45 years.

Gene, a firm believer of public education, was a member of the Fergus Falls School Board for 12 years, and was instrumental in the creation of Fergus Falls Junior College, now known as M State – Fergus Falls. He served on the YMCA Board, the Federated Church Board, in Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce. Gene enjoyed gardening, reading, fishing, hunting, tennis, canoeing, flying and wine making. He completed his last triathlon at age 79. He and Dorothy swam daily at the YMCA. Gene enjoyed the banter of his men’s coffee group. Gene bicycled in Europe twice (once with his family and once with Dorothy) and travelled the world (over 40 countries) with Dorothy, his love. A family man, Gene instilled the importance of education and an appreciation of diverse cultures, and the natural world.

Preceding him in death were his parents and siblings Mary Lou Richardson, Lowell Porter and Walter Porter.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Dorothy; children, Rex (Debbie) Porter of Deerfield WI, Mary (Luis) de Sousa of Oxford, England, Ann (Jerry Fletcher) Porter of Fergus Falls, and Paul (Katy LeBarron) Porter of Roseville; eight grandchildren Kevin (Lorna) Porter, Rebecca Porter, Tina (Ryan Hawkins) Porter, Miguel de Sousa, Nicole (Michael) Welle, Alexis (Dan) Johnson, Emma (Troy Sabean) Porter, and Erik Porter; and three great-grandchildren, Annika and Pierce Welle, and Kieran Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the YMCA, Federated Church, LB Hospice or the organization of the donor’s choice.

Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the church
Memorial Service: 11 a.m., Saturday, August 18, 2018, at the Federated Church, Fergus Falls
Clergy: Rev. Dr. C. Edward Morgan
Interment: Knollwood Memorial Gardens, Fergus Falls
Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls is in charge of the arrangements