Gene W. Garretson, 66, of Leigh, formerly of Merrick County, died at Morys Haven in Columbus on Wednesday, January 23, 2013. Funeral services will be Saturday, January 26th at 11:00 a.m. at the chapel of Solt Funeral Home in Central City with Rev. Donna Carpenter officiating. Visitation will be Friday, January 25th from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment is in the Bureau Cemetery by Pierce Chapel near Clarks. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltfh.com.

Gene Wallace was born on June 15, 1946, near Monroe to Robert E. and Dorothy A. (Jones) Garretson. He grew up in central Nebraska, and lived and received his education in Merrick County. After completing his schooling, Gene worked for several years as a farm hand and he worked at Lindsay Irrigation. Gene was united in marriage to Janet Leah Watson on October 13, 1979 in Goodland, Minnesota. The family lived in Grant and Imperial and in Minnesota, before returning to Nebraska in 1986 and settling in Leigh. Gene worked for Tyson Packing in Madison for twenty years and retired in 2007.

Rebuilding two-cylinder John Deere tractors was a favorite past time for Gene and he enjoyed doing this with his brothers, also.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children - Amanda Garretson of Sioux City, Iowa; Alicia and Cody Fred of Columbus; and Kaleb and Lacey Garretson of Leigh; two grandchildren; his siblings - Richard and LaRae Garretson of Ogallala; Ronald and Rose Garretson of Cozad; Debbie and Phil Conklin of Douglas, Wyoming; and Kevin and Deana Garretson of Creston; his aunts - Marjorie Schnorr of Grand Island; Neola (Delano) Kinberg of Lincoln; Mardella Garretson of Chapman; Pat Tuck of Haden, Colorado; Ruby Anderson of Little Rock, Arkansas; and Ruth Horton of Helena, Montana.

Gene was preceded in death by his wife, Janet, on July 31, 2002; his parents, brother - Roger Garretson in 1966; uncles - Don and Wallace Garretson; and aunt and uncle - Art and Lois Weiser.