Gene Richard Speelman, 72

Gene Richard Speelman, 72, passed peacefully at his home in Evergreen on Nov. 8, 2016.

He was born in Bozeman on Dec. 3, 1943, the second of two children, to John and Ann Speelman, immigrants from Holland. The family moved to Kalispell in 1947.

He graduated from Flathead High School and had a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from University of Montana, graduating in 1967.

Gene worked for the Montana Standard newspaper in Butte until the summer of 1969 when he returned to Kalispell and took over his father’s business, Evergreen Apiaries, which he had until 1994. He also spent several years as a sports writer covering Flathead area events for the Missoulian, and later worked as a sports reporter for the Daily Inter Lake.

Gene enjoyed playing golf, writing letters to the editor, tracking all things sports related and spending time in the company of his many friends and loved ones. His kind heart and generosity will be missed by all those whose lives he touched.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ann Speelman, and his only sibling Edwin Speelman.

Interment will be at Glacier Memorial Gardens with his brother. There will be no formal services.

Contributions in Gene’s memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the Montana State Beekeepers Association.