MALTA-Gene Copeland 51, an Army veteran and directional driller and mechanic died in his sleep on January 29 from complications of COPD.

Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M., Friday, February 4, at the Kirkwood Memorial Chapel in Malta. Interment with military honors will be in the Malta Cemetery. The family will receive friends at a visitation on Thursday at 7 PM at the funeral home. Kirkwood Funeral Home of Malta is in charge of arrangements. Condolences for the family may be left at www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com.

Gene was born on June 2, 1959 in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. He was raised on a small farm northwest of town, the youngest of 7 children. His Mom worked as a cook in town and as far as he knew his Dad was a blacksmith. The little town they lived in was Rosewood and is still on the map today.

He went to school in Viking, Newfolden and Thief River Falls, Minnesota. After school Gene went into Army as a gas--diesel mechanic. He was in the army for 6 years, 1977 to 1983. He even made a short trip to Alaska. After serving in the military he was in the Pocono Mountains for about 3 years. Very pretty country! He then made my way back to Minnesota and stayed with his mom for awhile. He went to live with his aunt for awhile in North Dakota. While in North Dakota he met Geraldine Ebertowski. They had a son on July 5 1990, Jeffery Allen Ebertowski Copeland.

Gene left North Dakota and hit the road, taking various jobs such as working as a ride operator for various carnivals, while working for the carnival; he was electrocuted by one of the rides, sending 200 volts through his body. He also worked at a cafe in Hungry Horse.

Gene met Deborah Abrahamson in 1992 in Malta. They were later married on September 12, 1994 in Malta. Gene held many jobs over the years including The Royals Inn in 1993 and Abe's Auto Repair as a mechanic, Suncon Inc from May 1999 until Aug 2000, as a directional driller, helping Dale Frietag move buildings & houses from April 2001 until Sept 2001, and Warrens School Busing as a school bus driver from Feb 2001 until May 2004. He worked as a janitor for the Malta High School for a period of time. He worked for Elenburg Exploration on the derek. He also worked for a couple of different Fiber Optic companies, until an injury ended his working career. While working for Elenburg, Gene & Debbie bought a camper so Debbie could travel with him while he worked in various places.

Gene was very passionate about the outdoors and it was evident in the various jobs he seeks out. He was just as passionate about his hobbies. Gene liked to hunt, pan gold, camp, collect and run RC cars and boats, and above all else, he loved to talk on his ham radio. His call sign was KC7WWY. He enjoyed keeping in touch with his many friends over the "radio waves". Gene also loved animals and had many pets over the years.

Gene is survived by his wife Deborah Copeland of Malta Mt, his son Jeffrey of Sandstone MN., his brother Bill (Angie) Copeland of Senoia GA., step brothers, Darrell (Shirley) Swenson of Red Lake Falls MN., Allen (Randi) Swenson of Thief River Falls, MN., and his half brother Bob Copeland of Washington, sisters Carolyn (Rodney) Grandstrand of Maple Plain, MN., Marion (Glenn) Halvorson of Fosston MN., Arlene (Floyd) Erickson of Thief River Falls MN., and his great aunt Margaret Kirkeby of Thief River Falls, MN., numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, mother, Elizabeth (Copeland) Swenson, father Roy Copeland, step dad, Art Swenson, a brother Leland Copeland and a sister Virginia "Ginny" McGlynn.