Eugene “Gene” S. Fedorenko, 94, of Watford City, ND passed away on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at the Lund Hospice Home in Gilbert, AZ.

Eugene Fedorenko was born in Harvey, ND to Sam and Anne Fedorenko of Kief, ND on October 12,1931. He came home to an older sister, LaVern (Bobbie). He attended grade school in Kief, ND, attended high school here and at Minot High School, and also attended Minot State University at the same time. He attended University of North Dakota and graduated with a degree in Marketing and Management in 1957. While he was there, he also worked for Griffiths in Grand Forks.

Gene saw a sign at UND which said, “Step up and join the Navy,” so he did and spent the next 4 years serving his country in the US Navy and then attached to the Marines as a Hospital Corpsman. He was awarded 2 Purple Hearts while in Korea.

After retiring from the military, he met his future wife, Elaine Olson from Watford City, ND, and they were married in 1954 at First Lutheran Church in Watford City. They have 3 children: Teri (Tim) Taylor; Julie Fedorenko and Jim (Lori-deceased) Fedorenko; Lori's children, Nicole (Ryan) Brathwaite, Shane, and Luke McLaren; 2 granddaughters, Lisa (Brian) Felty and Sarah (Sean) Hesler; 2 great grandsons, Carter and Maison Felty; and special family Bob and Kathy Olson.

Gene served as a rural mail carrier at Keene and farmed with his father-in-law and brother-in-law. He was transferred to Dickinson and worked part time at Parkway Ford and sold real estate. They also had a lake home at McKenzie Bay where he loved to water ski (still did at 89), jet ski, boat, and spend family time. When he retired, he bought a ranch north of Medora and ranches with his son. After selling the ranch, he moved back to Watford City and spent the winter in Mesa, AZ where he was active playing pickle ball, golf, pinochle, and cribbage.

During his lifetime he was a member of the ND Rural Carriers, served on the Independent Oil Board at Kenne, served two terms on the McKenzie County School Board, served on the church boards in Clear Creek in Keene, St. John’s Lutheran, Dickinson, ND, and First Lutheran in Watford City, and the McKenzie Marine Club Board. He loved to sing and sang in the Dickinson Barbershop choir and quartette, and church choirs wherever he lived. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge and The SVE Veterans Club.