Gene Dennis Jorgenson, longtime Stanfield resident, died on Sept. 17, 2023 in Kennewick, Wash. at the age of 74.
Gene and his twin brother Jerry were born on Aug. 17, 1949 in Hettinger, N.D. to James R. Jorgenson and E. Margaret Cummings Jorgenson.
He moved to Arlee, Mont. as an infant and later to Polson, Mont. He graduated from Polson High School in 1967 and went on to study business education at Eastern Washington State College in Cheney. Gene was active in Army ROTC, with the intent of heading to Vietnam. By God’s grace, he was honorably discharged due to hearing loss.
While in college he met his wife of 52 years, Marjorie Schretenthaler Jorgenson of Spokane, Wash. They were married on March 27, 1971. After graduation Gene and Marjorie moved to Stanfield, where they raised two children, Jennifer and Brian.
Gene was hired at Stanfield High School. He taught business education, drivers’ education and multiple other subjects over the course of 30 years. After retirement, he continued to work for Stanfield School District as their IT manager.
Gene was well known and liked in the community, serving on Stanfield City Council for 28 years. Additionally, he volunteered as a reserve police officer in Stanfield for several decades. Using his background in business education, he also worked part time as the clerk for Stanfield Fire District and later Hermiston Fire District. He taught as an adjunct professor for Blue Mountain Community College for 20 years, teaching accounting and other business courses. Gene taught First Aid/CPR for Good Shepherd Community Hospital. Gene and Marjorie were active at Stanfield Baptist Church and later at New Hope Community
Church. Gene was generous with his time, serving on multiple community boards. Most recently he served on the city of Stanfield Planning Commission.
Over the years, the Jorgensons enjoyed taking vacations to visit family and to see new sites. After retirement, Gene and Marjorie were active travelers to fun destinations such as Washington, D.C., Germany, England, Las Vegas, Hawaii multiple times, and most recently the holy lands in Israel. For a season, Gene was active in the skydive community, with over 500 jumps. In his spare time, Gene enjoyed watching movies at home and reading a good book. Everywhere he went, Gene was friendly and would start up a conversation with anyone and everyone. He had a way of making people feel valued, and even spent time learning Spanish to help support students in his classroom. Gene was known for his good sense of humor and was always telling stories and jokes to anyone who would listen.
He is survived by his loving wife, Marjorie; daughter, Jennifer (Matt) McConnell; son, Army Col. Brian (Megan) Jorgenson; and his sister, Rita (Bill) Pilgrim. Gene also has six grandchildren, Gavin, Ethan and Levi McConnell, and Moira, Isak and Eli Jorgenson.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents; his older brother, Darrel Jorgenson; and his twin brother, Jerry Jorgenson.
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023 at 1 p.m. at New Hope Community Church, 1350 S. Highway 395, Hermiston.
A private family burial was at the Hermiston Cemetery.
If you would like to donate in Gene’s memory, please give to the New Hope Community Church youth mission trip fund.
Please share memories of Gene with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
