Eugene Espeland

I've lived a wonderful life Gene Espeland, veteran, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather died on December 9, 2024, at Westpark Village in Billings, Montana, from cancer at age 92.

Eugene was born on August 18, 1932, in Ambrose, North Dakota to parents Selmer and Mabel Espeland. He and three brothers and two sisters attended a one room grade school in McElroy, Montana, just down the road from where they farmed.

He graduated from Plentywood High in 1950. He attended MSU-Northern for two years where, because he was tall, he was recruited by coach Ole Olafsson to join the basketball team--a sport new to him. Following a four-year stint in the Air Force, he married Barbara Hanson and returned to finish college at Eastern Montana College (Montana State Billings). They had three children: Joni, Max, and Kristi.

Gene's basketball career took him to Forsyth, Circle, Glendive and to MSU where he was an assistant coach to Roger Craft, then on to Great Falls High for many years where he coached the team to a State Championship in 1976, bookended by runner-up trophies in 1974 and 1977. For nine years starting in 1981 he was an assistant to George Karl with the CBA's Golden Nuggets. Thereafter, he and Barb trained and raced thoroughbred horses for many years.

Eventually they moved to Billings, Montana, to be closer to their children. Athletic Director, Toby Kangas, invited Gene to coach the Billings Central Rams. Gene coached the Rams to their first State Championship in 1996. Along the way he was inducted into the MSU Billings Athletic Hall of fame and the Montana Coaches Association Hall of fame. Hundreds of his players learned that hard work resulted in success, not only in basketball but in life.

He and Barb enjoyed golf--both winning local tournaments. They were both successful realtors. Gene cared for Barb for a decade as she progressed with Alzheimer's to her death in 2014.

Gene is survived by daughters Joni (Steve) Harman, Kristi (Mike) Grob, and son Max (Peggy), grandchildren Leigha Waugh, Adam Harman, Ben and Krystal Harman, Kaleigh (Sean) Thompson, Holly Grob, Mallory Harman and Vince Nguyen, Dana Grob, Colton Espeland and great grandchildren Teagan Lawson, Carson Thompson, Harlan and Grey Harman and Sen Nguyen. Two brothers, Sam and Dennis (Marilyn), and sisters Marilyn (Jack) Adkins and Betty Aune survive him.

Gene is pre-deceased by his parents, brother Richard, and sister Gladys Grimm.

A celebration of Gene's life will be held at Westpark Village, 2351 Solomon Ave., Billings, Montana, on Sunday at 3 pm. The public is welcome. In lieu of flowers consider making a donation in Gene's name to the Westpark Employee Christmas Fund or Riverstone Hospice Care.