Longtime Sioux Falls resident, Melvyn Eugene Makinson, passed away Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Sioux Falls. He was 82.

Gene was born February 11, 1943, to Elsie Christine (Boggs) and Ronald Lee Makinson in Phillips, TX. Gene was born into a military family and moved several times before graduating Gosnell High School in Blythville, Arkansas. After graduating from high school in 1961, he joined the US Air Force.

Later on June 10, 1966, he married the love of his life, Bonita "Bonnie" Victorian. Gene attended Phoenix College and received his AA degree in Police Science in 1968. Gene and Bonnie moved to Sioux Falls, SD, where he became a police officer for the city of Sioux Falls.  In 1971, they had their first child, Ronald, and in 1972, their daughter, Christine, was born. In 1973, the family moved to Mesa, Arizona. In 1985, the family moved to Sisseton, SD, where he opened his restaurant, "Gene's Grill." Later, he became a veteran's service officer for Roberts County.

They returned to Sioux Falls, SD in 1999. He worked for the Minnehaha Sheriff's Office and also worked security for the South Dakota Air National Guard.

Gene loved watching Westerns, military and combat movies, frequented the gun range, and loved to travel and visit relatives. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Michael Parish.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Bonnie; daughter, Christine Malcolm (Kristian); eleven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and brother, Jerry Makinson. He was preceded in death by his son, Ronald, and his parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the charity of your choice.

Funeral Mass will be 10:30am Friday, May 30, 2025, at St. Michael Catholic Church, with visitation beginning at 10:00am.

Committal services with military honors will be held at the SD Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls, at 11:00 am Monday, June 2, 2025.