Darrell "Gene" Cordes, age 79, of Sioux Falls, died on Friday, October 13, 2017. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM, on Thursday, October 19, 2017 at Trinity Baptist Church, 2400 W. 18th St. in Sioux Falls. The family will be present to greet friends prior to the service at 12:30 PM at Trinity Baptist Church.

Gene was born Nvemeber 21, 1937, in Rapid City, SD to Henry and Ressie Cordes. He attended Rapid City Central High School and graduated in 1955. Following high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps, Gene achieved the rank of Sergeant, meritoriously. After the Marine Corps, he started his long career with the telephone company.

Gene was a member of The Elks Club of Deadwood, Toastmasters Clubs in Sioux Falls and Mitchell, Lions Club, Telephone Pioneers, and the Marine Corps League. He also served as Scout Master for Troop 46.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Joyce Cordes; daughter Tammy (Terry) Nordstrom; son, Dale (Heather) Cordes; 3 grandsons, Travis, (Rosa) Nordstrom, Caelan Cordes, Micah Cordes; 3 great grandsons, Isaac Nordstrom, Elijah Nordstrom, and Luke Nordstrom; brother, Henry (Ethel) Cordes; sister, Mary Ann (Tom) McKay; 5 nephews, Tom McKay, Daniel McKay, Donald Dingman, Corbin Phillips, Jim (Lynda) Cordes; 4 nieces, Nancy Cordes, Carol (Ron) Nelson, Wendy (Mark) McKinnon, Michelle Kostich.