Gene Loren Reierson, 94, of Moorhead, MN, formerly of Esmond, ND passed away Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Bethany Retirement Living in Fargo, ND. A Memorial Service for both Gene and his wife, Janice, will be held at 1:30 PM on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Esmond with Pastor Cassie Borges officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be held at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Esmond.

Gene Loren Reierson passed away August 5, 2026 at Bethany Retirement Living in Fargo, ND. He was born on June 27, 1932 in Esmond, ND to Magdalena C. (Hammer) and Baldwin A. Reierson. He attended Baker School until the tenth grade, graduating in 1950 through NDSU Extension Services. On November 20, 1955, he married his lifelong love Janice Toso.

Less than a year later, Gene was drafted into the United States Army spending the next two years stationed in England and Germany. After his discharge in 1958, he worked in Devils Lake for Singer Sewing Machines and Shark’s Clothing. In 1959, he moved to Esmond to work for Standard Oil Amoco as a bulk agent. He was known by many of the local children as “the Tootsie Roll man,” as he always kept them on hand to give out. In 1998, after 39 years, he sold the business and retired. Gene and Janice had 3 children, Karen, Kim and David.

Gene was active in his community and years later often said he was on every board but the washboard. He served on the Esmond City Council, Trinity Lutheran Church Council, Senior Citizen’s Housing Board, Buffalo Lake Sportsman's Club, Esmond Community Development Board, and the Lions Club. He continued his community involvement by writing letters to local papers in the Esmond area and weighing in on current issues and events.

During his retirement, Gene enjoyed going to auctions, thrift stores, making greeting cards, and reading. Most of all he loved visiting with family and friends (both old and young), and traveling to see his grandchildren. Being with his family made him endlessly happy. He loved to tell old stories and jokes, and recall old country songs calling out lyrics to see if anyone knew them. His grandchildren recall Gene letting them play with his tractors, cooking for them (especially pancakes), teaching them how to play checkers, and teaching them to drive. He loved to smile and laugh and make others laugh and was a great storyteller. He always put his children and grandchildren first and wanted them to be happy. He will be remembered as a kind, caring, thoughtful, and a generous man of deep faith.

Gene and Janice moved to Fargo in 2021 and made many new friends at both Touchmark and Farmstead. While there, they particularly loved visiting with family and old friends from Esmond. Janice passed away November 6, 2023; two weeks shy of their 68th wedding anniversary.

Gene is preceded in death by his parents, Baldwin and Lena, wife Janice, brothers Ronald and Milford, and sister Bonita. He is survived by his brothers Vaughn and Daniel, children Karen (Joe) Griffith, Kim Kelsh, David (Karen) Reierson, grandchildren Dan (Liz) Griffith, Hannah (Spencer) Evans, Sarah Griffith and fiancé Grant Bullock, Andrew (Christina) Kelsh, Jaqueline Kelsh, Sydney Reierson, Taylor Reierson, 6 great grandchildren Lucy, Jack, Ellie, Lena, Olive, Levi, and many nieces and nephews.