Genevie Joanne Liffengren, better known as “Gen” by her family and friends, was born February 24, 1933, to Adolph and Florence (Cahill) Ernst in Pierre, South Dakota. She grew up on a farm outside of Draper, South Dakota where she attended school and graduated from Draper High in 1951. She was baptized and confirmed in Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and lived her faith as a lifelong member of Draper’s St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
After high school Gen furthered her education at the University of South Dakota and studied pre-med for two years before getting terribly home sick and returning home to marry the love of her life, Luverne Liffengren, on November 15, 1953, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
Gen and Luverne built their lives around their ranch and raised son Lindsay, daughter Jodee, and grandson Christopher. Gen’s passions included ranching, gardening, and tending her flowers. Later in life Gen achieved the distinction of becoming a Master Gardener and many turned to her for gardening advice. One of Gen’s favorite parts of ranch life were her animals. For over 66 years she oversaw the birthing, raising, and bottle-feeding thousands of calves, caring for many beloved dogs, a prolific number of cats, and many sets of bum lambs. A particular fond memory of Gen’s was hosting numerous nieces and nephews to help on the ranch. Some for short periods and others for repeat summers…..thanks to Craig, Doug, Don, Kay, Neal, and Laurel.
The importance of taking a break and enjoying family time was a priority, and there are many fond memories in the Keystone getaway in the Black Hills, surviving the drive to/from Alaska on the rugged ALCON Highway in 1964, surviving a hurricane in Hawaii in 1982, and many other vacation adventures from around the U.S. plus Europe and Scandinavia. The only state that was missed was Delaware.
When Luverne went to heaven in March 2000 after 47 years of marriage, Gen continued to operate the Liffengren Ranch until the spring of 2019 when she moved to Rapid City and lived at The Victorian Assisted Living. The Victorian staff took exceptionally good care of Gen, and she enjoyed tending to her flowers there as well. While Gen’s health would not physically allow her to be at the ranch anymore, her heart was and always will be on the ranch.
Those of us still here that love and miss Gen dearly include her son Lindsay of Marana, Arizona; daughter Jodee, grandsons Christopher and Adam, and great-grandson Alias, all of Rapid City, South Dakota; and numerous nieces, nephews, neighbors, and friends. Gen also leaves behind her best friend Buddy who spent 12 years by her side. They were inseparable even in Gen’s final days.
Gen was preceded in death by her husband Luverne; parents; brother Wilmar; sister Norma; and many special aunts, uncles, in-laws, nieces, and nephews.
Gen was the center of her family. Her kind spirit and love touched us all and made us who we are. The loss of her physical presence has created a painful void in our lives, and she will be missed every day. We are comforted though by all the beautiful memories of her wonderful 88 years on this earth. She is at rest in heaven now, in the arms of the Lord, and we know that we will all be reunited soon.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made in Gen’s name to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church or the Rapid City Garden Club.
Visitation will be held one hour preceding the funeral service at the church.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, July 13, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Draper, with Pastor Ray Greenseth officiating.
http://rushfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Details/2e3a279b-a71e-4267-9dbd-55d411520d36
