Gene Ray Woodle , 68, traveled to his Eternal Home on Tuesday, February 28th, after a valiant battle with cancer.

He was born to the late Darrell Lavere and Donna Mae Woodle on May 19, 1948 in Hot Springs, SD. Gene graduated from Rapid City Central High School and went on to continue his education receiving a Masters in Chemical Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and a Law Degree from the University Of South Dakota School Of Law. Gene also served in the United States Army from 1970-1972, spending most of that time in Germany.

Upon returning to Rapid City, Gene worked many years as a Patent Attorney and was an integral part of Strider Bikes since the company's inception. He was especially proud of the work he did with Strider and the people at Strider were like family.

Gene was an incredible storyteller and writer. Even his retelling of real life stories usually became a bit fantastical, which made them better. One of the things he enjoyed most was meeting family, friends and business acquaintances for a meal and good conversation. His adventurous spirit took him fly fishing, skiing and on motorcycle trips throughout the Black Hills and Rockies. Gene loved to strike up conversation with total strangers, had a way of making everyone he met feel welcome and laughed easily. He also made sure all the kids in his life knew the square root of two hundred fifty six.

Gene leaves behind many that love and will miss him. His three siblings Larry (Sharon) Woodle of Deadwood, Nancy (Bill) Ewing of Rapid City, and Kim Woodle (Joanne Downs) of Long Island, NY; his three step-children Kristen (Mike) Cirillo of Florida, Amata Jackson (Peter Fisk) of New Mexico and James Jackson (Jeri Williams) of Florida and his nephews and nieces Jesse (Janie) Ewing, Lacey (Nate) Brown, Nic (Sherri) Ewing, Holly (John) Trimble, Kyle (Kori) Ewing, Alex (Kathryne) Woodle and Madeleine Woodle. Gene also leaves behind 14 ½ great nieces and nephews as well as many wonderful friends.

Funeral Services will be held at 3:00pm on Thursday, March 9th at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Rapid City with the Rev. Bob Jacobs officiating. Inurnment at Black Hills National Cemetery will be held at a later date.

Gene helped to create the Strider Rider Fund and the family has established a memorial in his honor.