Posted by Terry Powers on December 23, 2022:

Eugene E. Hustad, age 81, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Friday, February 6, 2009 in his home at Watertown. Memorial services were held on Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Episcopal Church. A private family service and interment preceded the memorial service at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Watertown, SD. Military Honors were conducted by the Codington County Post 17 of the American Legion. Eugene Earle Hustad was born on November 29, 1927 to Elmer and Ferne (Leffingwell) Hustad in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He attended high school in Watertown, graduating from Watertown High School in 1945. Gene entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York in July of 1945, graduated in June of 1949, and was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force. He married Frances Lockhart in Watertown in 1949. Mrs. Hustad died in 1987. During the following 28 plus years in the U. S. Air Force, Gene served in many capacities including basic flight instructor, all-weather jet flight instructor, flight-interceptor and fighter-bomber pilot, flight safety officer and accident investigator. In 1961 he received a Master of Business Administration (with honors) from the University of Chicago, specializing in Research and Development. He spent the next six years with the Space Systems Division, Air Force Systems Command in Los Angeles, CA working with the Program Office responsible for the conception, design, development, test and deployment of the Initial Defense Communications Satellite System. This system was successfully launched in 1966, marking one of the high points in his career. His next assignment was to the U.S. Air Force Air War College where he served as class president, was a Distinguished Graduate, and through off-duty study received a Master of Science Degree in International Affairs. Gene spent a year flying combat in Vietnam before being assigned to the Defense Special Projects Group in Washington, DC. He then served in Oslo, Norway with Allied Forces Northern Europe, NATO before being assigned to the Foreign Technology Division, AF Systems Command. He retired in 1977 with the rank of Colonel. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal. He was a Command Pilot and a Senior Missile Officer. Following his retirement, he returned to South Dakota where he worked for a short time in real estate. He married Elizabeth Ann Gereau in 1990 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Watertown where he became an active member holding many church Vestry positions. He was also a long time member of the G & N Gun Club. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his first wife, Frances. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; four daughters, Karen Hustad, Kim (Scott) Dexter, Roxanne (Don) Finstad, Tracy Gereau; one son, Rick (Peggy) Gereau; and seven grandchildren.

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