Funeral services for Eugenia L. (Annis) Burgee age 92 of Dupree left her loved ones on March 11, 2014.  Funeral services will include an Evening Prayer Service on March 14, 2014 at 7 pm in Pioneer Hall at Dupree, SD and her funeral will be Saturday morning at 10 a.m. in the gymnasium at Dupree School in Dupree, SD.  Burial will be in the Dupree Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.

She was born on March 22, 1921 in Ziebach County to Floyd (Ford) and Mary (Dupris) and became more known throughout her life as "Gene".  The family lived in several locations around Ziebach County and south of the town, Dupree, named for her family.  Her siblings included Jennie (who died in infancy); Jenny Elizabeth; brothers Delbert (Bud) and Dave (Fat); and younger sister, Marguerite (Muggs).  She attended country schools until later when they would ultimately attend the Government Boarding Schools where she graduated high school there in 1940.

Gene would have a rich, full life and along with her two sons, Dannie and Jae, that would include meeting her "Great Love", Robert J. "Bob" Burgee, upon his return from World War II.  Like many other families, it required both of them to be working to support of their family that would later include the addition of Jeri, Doug and Kathy, and she began her long history of employment with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in the Community Action Program (CAP); as a classroom aide for 9 years and then, after 14 years, she retired from the Cheyenne River Housing Authority where she was a Resident Specialist.  She became known across the reservation for helping others to find a decent place to live and her reputation for always "giving a ride to someone" was known far and wide.  She always said she was just returning the favor that someone else had done for her, "way back when".

She would often tell that when Bob took her and her two boys into his heart, it was the biggest blessing in her life.  They were married at Gettysburg, SD on October 22, 1946 and they would add three more children, Jerilyn Jean, Douglas Arthur and Kathy Joan.  She relied on Dannie, the eldest to be her biggest helper with the other little ones but she said he got the "roaming fever" and joined the Navy.  Jae's great curiosity also took him to places far away and after growing up helping on the family ranch he, too, began a life of traveling around this country working as a farrier and a barber.  He had a shop in Dupree for many years but horses were the love of his life so he went to Denver and became a renown trainer in the world of quarter horse racing and even went to the Kentucky Derby trials.  Jeri was the next to "follow her own thing".  She was employed locally and attended college for many years but would later return to college full time for two years and achieved multiple degrees upon graduation in 1998.  She had a 40-year career and worked in many non-profit organizations.  Doug was most happy if he had a book and a fishing pole in his hands.  He worked many decades for the Cheyenne River Telephone Company and was a special friend to his Dad.  Their biggest ray of sunshine was born on Thanksgiving Day one year and Kathy could talk her Dad out of his eye teeth!  Many grand- and great-grandchildren came along and added to the fullness of their lives.

Gene got a lot of joy in being a friend to many but it was her many years of civic duty that gave her so much happiness.  It all began when she helped stage the Jubilee celebration of the town of Dupree in 1960 and was followed by volunteering at the rodeos during Pioneer Days.  She and all of her immediate family were lifelong members and supporters of the parish of St. Philip's Episcopal church.  Both she and Bob were avid card players and enjoyed the community bridge gatherings.  Gene's love of music was legendary.  She said if you're going to be a member of this family, you're going to have to learn how to waltz.  She held her family and large network of friends very close to her heart and was always quick to tell of how grateful she was for all of them.  She did not fear her leaving and looked forward to joining her husband and son whenever her journey would end.

She is preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, her husband and her son.  She is survived by son, Dannie, of Eagle Butte; son, Doug, Dupree; daughters Jeri and Kathy of Dupree; sister, Marguerite of Eagle Butte; sisters-in-law, Mary and Beverly, as well as grandchildren, great-grandchildren and dozens of nieces, nephews and beloved friends.  Her motto was "Love is good; be kind to one another and never pass up a Friend."  She would later make fun of herself when she said her motto became that of, "Well, you know, Gene…at YOUR age."