Eugene (“Gene”) Addink was born April 10, 1954 in Sioux Center, Iowa, the seventh child of 10 born to Dick and Hilda (Kiel) Addink.

Gene attended Sioux Center Christian elementary school and Western Christian High School in Hull, Iowa, where as a teenager he was the rural route bus driver to and from school for his peers. He also worked in the family business shelling corn.

He loved hunting and the outdoors. His future bride dodged a proverbial bullet when Gene decided to forego his intended career path as a fulltime muskrat trapper and instead attend Dordt College where he majored in accounting followed by obtaining his license as a Certified Public Accountant.

Gene met the love of his life Betty (Van Der Schaaf) soon after high school. They were married August 12, 1975, the beginning of a 50+ year adventure together.

Initially out of college Gene worked for two private companies and an accounting firm before coming to the realization that the work at the first job for Duininck Companies gave him the most enjoyment. He called a Duininck partner to inquire about the possibility of returning to work for them, and Gene was invited to tour a 13,067-acre soon-to-be former ranch just south of Rapid City, South Dakota where the Duinincks had a vision of establishing a membership camping resort, golf course, and housing development.

Gene’s trust in the company and confidence in the opportunity were so strong that he agreed to the position without even asking about the compensation, and moved his young family, including his two beautiful daughters,
Abby and Gina, to Rapid City.

While there were initial struggles to make the new venture named Hart Ranch cash flow, Gene persevered and rose to the top as a company leader and gifted developer of not only land but of people. He loved the Hart Ranch valley, and he and Betty built a home on the golf course where they could enjoy the valley day and night.

God blessed Gene’s 42-year career with Duininck Companies which also included the position of C.E.O. of additional camping resorts in the upper Midwest and the InHarvest wild rice division in Woodland, California. In his later years he also started business ventures with several family members with the primary motivation of building stronger relationships with each of them.

Gene was a man of many interests. His enjoyment of hunting and the outdoors continued throughout his life. He purchased a 720-acre farm near Burke, South Dakota that he leased out and loved to frequent to spend time working with his hands on endless projects and improvements. He was a planner, and always had his next motorcycle trips, Alaskan fishing, hikes, personal goals, and gatherings near and far with friends and family on his calendar.

He was intentional to find common interests with others in order to spend time with them and build
relationships. That was easiest to do when the other person was a card player. Always with an affection and kindness for someone in need or an underdog, the stories of those Gene quietly helped and came alongside in a time of need are extensive.

Gene, like his father, was a dedicated advocate for Christian education, including eagerly supporting his alma-mater Dordt University and its annual Rooster Booster pheasant hunt fundraising event. During his final 21 years, Gene poured himself into his ultimately 10 grandchildren, developing unique relationships with each of them, and hosting an annual “Grandpa Camp” at the Burke farm where the grandchildren were treated to whatever adventures they could dream up in exactly three days (not a minute more), a seemingly endless supply of home-cooked food, and most importantly, time with their grandparents and great aunt and uncle.

In his later years, Gene’s love for Jesus blossomed through a deep, personal devotional life and meaningful conversations with those around him about the Lord. Always an early riser, he would read scripture and journalhis thoughts about Jesus, life, and plans for the future. Even when his health failed him, he held fast to his faith in the goodness of God and eternal salvation through the work of Christ on the cross and the resurrection. Gene finished his earthly race well (2 Timothy 4:7), and from his earthly home he went to be with the Lord on June 27, 2026 at the age of 72.

He is survived by his wife, Betty, his daughters, Abby (Samuel) Fischer and Gina (Thane) Rose, and his ten grandchildren Samuel, Noah, Ethan, Torah, Isabelle, Aria, Clara, Elizabeth, Samara, and Hannah. He is also survived by his siblings Harriett Martinus, Duane (Kathy), Larry (Sharidee), Ken (Barbara), Alma (Jim) DeVries, Betty (Kevin) Moss, and his sister-in-law Mary Steward of Jesus. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers John
Steward of Jesus and Calvin, sister Marilyn (William) Moore, and brother-in-law Jim Martinus.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 4pm-6pm on Tuesday July 7, 2026 at Kirk Funeral Home, 1051 E. Minnesota St., Rapid City, SD. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:30am on Wednesday July 8, 2026 at Parkview Evangelical Free Church, 333 Sandra Ln., Rapid City, SD. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Calvary Christian School or Rapid City Christian School both in Rapid City, SD.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10 (Gene’s favorite scripture verse)