Gene Robertson, 79

Eugene Frank Robertson, 79, of Bruneau, died quietly in his home on Oct. 5, 2007.

Services will be held at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, 500 N. 18th East St., in Mountain Home, on Saturday, Oct. 13, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Graveside services will be held at Hot Springs Cemetery in Bruneau at 12:30 p.m.

"Gene" was born in Weiser on Feb. 24, 1928, to Merle and Marie Alvina (Kimpler) Robertson. He grew up in Hot Springs/Bruneau and graduated from Bruneau High School in 1945.

After high school, Gene worked as a hand for ranchers in the Bruneau Valley. He then attended Boise Junior College/University of Idaho before entering the Army, serving as a CPL T during the Korean War.

When he returned, he married Susan Gail Kohring of Bruneau on May 3, 1952, in Coeur d'Alene.

Gene returned to the University of Idaho where he graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1956.

He accepted a position at the Naval Ordinance Test Station in China Lake, Calif., earning several awards and recognitions during his 25 years of employment. When he retired in 1982, he and Susan returned to Bruneau.

Gene preferred the wilderness to life in the city, and could often be found enjoying archery, hunting, fishing and camping during his "off" hours with friends and family. He also spent time studying the genealogy of the Robertson family and working on the original Robertson homestead in Hot Springs.

He is survived by: his wife, Susan, of Bruneau; his daughters, Dawn Robertson of Tucson, Ariz., Kathleen and her husband, Stephen Ballou, of Tucson, Ariz., and Carol and her husband, Matthew Murphy, of Los Altos, Calif.; his sons, Dale and his wife, Lisa Robertson, of Sunnyvale, Calif., Alan Robertson of Ridegcrest, Calif., and Johnathan and his wife, Jeanie Robertson, of Phoenix, Ariz.; his sisters, Katherine Robertson of Boise, Elizabeth and her husband, Dave Havens, of Mount Angel, Ore., and Emma and her husband, Kevin Early, of Eugene, Ore.; brothers Russell and his wife, Sharon Robertson, of Boise, and Roy Robertson of San Diego, Calif.; and his brother-in-law, Leland Rood of Emmett; 11 grandchildren, one great-grandson, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Mary Rood, and his brother and sister-in-law, William and Delores Robertson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Horizon Home Health and Hospice, 1310 American Legion Blvd., Mountain Home, ID 83647.