Gene Allen Batcheller, “Curly” to many of his friends, passed away on February 22, 2022 at the age of 77 at Sanford Hospital, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Gene was born on February 29, 1944 and his youthful demeanor was always at the forefront as he counted his age in leap years (19 birthdays). He was born to Ned and Joan Batcheller in Sioux City, Iowa where he lived until his family moved to Worthington, MN in 1951. After graduating from Worthington Senior High School in 1963, Gene attended Worthington Junior College. He proudly served in the United States Army for four years, and counted himself lucky as his overseas deployment was in Germany and not Vietnam. Gene returned to Worthington after his military service joining his father’s agricultural business. He met Mary Kurtz when she began teaching in Worthington and they were married on 07/31/1971.