Gene Hagerty

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Obituary

Eugene “Gene” Hagerty, 78, of White Lake, SD, passed away peacefully Thursday, March 16, 2026, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, surrounded by his family. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 AM Tuesday, April 21, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in White Lake. Burial will be at a later date in St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery in White Lake. Visitation will be Monday, April 20, from 5-7:00 PM at the Church with a 6:30 PM Scripture Service. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Eugene Charles Hagerty was born August 26, 1947, to John "Am" and Catherine (Thiry) Hagerty in Mitchell, SD. He graduated from White Lake High School in 1965 and attended General Beadle College, where he played football and earned his teaching/coaching degree. On July 19, 1975, he married Donna Brunken. From this union, they had a daughter, Katie.

As a teacher and coach, he taught in Delmont and Plankinton, eventually retiring from teaching. Gene and Donna moved to White Lake in 1978, where they purchased the Sportsman's Pub, which they ran until 1980. He worked nights at the State Training School as a House Supervisor and was also a substitute mail carrier for the White Lake Post Office, eventually becoming the full-time carrier until his retirement in 2013.

Gene was an avid outdoorsman enjoying fishing, and goose and duck hunting with dogs. He was also a baseball, football, and girls' track coach for many years. He was a skilled bowler earning one of the top honors of bowling, a perfect game, at the Eastway Bowling Tournament in Sioux Falls. However, Gene's proudest and fondest memories were spending time with his grandsons, Koye, Kade, Kase, and Kole, teaching them all about hunting and fishing, baseball, football, and basketball. He rarely missed an event the boys were in.

Gene is survived by his wife, Donna; daughter, Katie (Josh); grandsons: Koye, Kade, Kase, and Kole all of White Lake; special friends, Jim and Kim Hoffman and sons, Andrew and Christopher, of Chicago, IL; brother, Dan (Judi) Hagerty of White Lake; sister, Evie Hagerty of Webster, SD and Norma Griffin, Aberdeen, SD; brother-in-law, Duane (Sharon) Brunken of Sioux Falls, SD; sister-in-law, Betty (Miles) Goehring of FL; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jack Hagerty; brother-in-law, Del Griffin; sister-in-law, Margaret Hagerty; nephew, Bob Hagerty; niece, Dawn Anderson; father-in-law, Don Brunken; mother-in-law, Marti Brunken; sister-in-law, Diane Wieting; and brother-in-law, Jim Wieting.

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