Ernest Eugene Nelson

Ernest Eugene "Gene" Nelson is a fourth generation Montanan from Dillon who was born on July 31, 1934 and died in Missoula on June 4, 2025. He became a world-class geological engineer whose specialty was exploration for both metals and non-metallics. Gene is a registered professional geologist. He comes from a long ancestral heritage of mining with ancestors that emigrated from Cornwall England and settled in early day mining camps of Bannack, Butte and then Dillon. 

Gene was gifted at farming. During high school he was awarded the state championship as Future Farmer of America (FFA). But he also liked mining, and worked in his early years as an open pit miner for Tri-State Minerals Co mining talc near Dillon, Minerals Engineering Co mining tungsten near Glen, MT and J.R. Simplot Co mining halloysite in Idaho. He worked as an underground miner for the Anaconda Company for copper in Butte. 

Between jobs, Gene took college courses at Dillon Western, Helena Carroll, and Butte School of Mines. Gene graduated from the University of Idaho as a Geological Engineer with a minor in Mining Engineering in 1959. During this time, the Army recognized him as a leader, promoted to Sergeant first class M-41 tank commander in the Army Ready Reserve (National Guard). 

As a geologist, Gene discovered a major buried iron deposit for the Standard Slag Co and expanded kaolin reserves for the Huntley Industrial Minerals Co. The odds of finding new mines from grassroots exploration are minuscule, but many of his colleagues have marveled that Gene has a unique ability to be able to stand on an undiscovered ore body and instinctively know it's there. He was one of the first geologists to recognize what ultimately became the Gold Quarry Mine near Carlin, and the Paradise Peak Mine near Gabbs, Nevada. But these properties did not fit corporate strategy in those days. Gene found out that it takes wise management to develop a mine. And so began his quest into management. 

Gene's career took off when he joined Union Carbide Corporation's Tungsten Division as a field geologist where he was quickly recognized for his natural leadership ability. He was soon promoted into his own exploration office in Missoula as NW District Geologist. Through success of exploration development, his supervision progressed over all the district offices ultimately as Exploration Manager of North American Tungsten from Alaska to California. Pioneering new exploration methods, within 5 years Gene found and drill-developed the two best new tungsten deposits in the United States. Following this success, he also became Manager of South American Tungsten where he identified major tungsten reserves in Mexico. Next, Gene managed teams that developed major tungsten reserves in South Africa. 

But in mining, timing is everything. Declining metal prices signaled an end to many great mining companies including Union Carbide. But Gene quickly rebounded back with gold exploration. He became President of several new companies that he formed such as Horizon Resources, Nelson Associates, and Yellow Band Inc where he developed a 100,000 oz gold reserve. He also formed his own public company on the Vancouver BC stock exchange, Blue Ribbon Resources LTD which identified huge gold anomalies in the wild and remote upper Amazon jungle. 

When gold prices fell, the environmental movement brought Montana exploration to a halt with the cyanide ban. Resiliently, Gene formed Apex Abrasives Inc to produce water-jet garnet and tungsten while reclaiming an abandoned tailings pond. 

Gene was the last original charter member of the Western Montana Mining Association (now called the Montana Mining Association) which has been instrumental in defending one of Montana's most important base industries: mining. In 2007, he was awarded the prestigious Uuno Sahinen Award from Montana Tech for significant contributions to Montana's mining industry. 

As a boy, Gene admired a young ranch girl named Elsie Rebich who raced around magnificently on a horse that looked far too big for her. They have been married for 66 years. They raised four children; Dirk, Julie, Rodney, and Erik. They settled in Missoula but also hold property in Dillon and Argenta. Gene did not have many hobbies aside from hunting and fishing as his career in mining was all consuming right up to his death. But he did love to read and study history which enabled him to intelligently converse within a huge range of subjects. He was also a member of the Dillon Knights of Columbus and Elks Club for over 50 years. 

Gene is proceeded in death by his parents, Ernest Charles and Martha Josephine (Roth) of Dillon. He is survived by his wife, Elsie Ann (Rebich) of Missoula and sister, Helen Kay Leybold of Portland, OR. Children are Dirk Eugene (Norlynn Marie Bruce) of Helena, Julie Ann (Steve Thor Fagenstrom) of Great Falls, Rodney John (Christine Marie Compson) of Billings, and Erik Andrew (Susan Jane Cox) of Condon. Grandchildren are Jonathan Eugene (Jazmin Sophia Rivers), Sonja Marie (Wayne Rockford Rulon), Lynnea Elizabeth (Clayton Lee Hacker), Daniel Bernard, Michelle Ann (Cody Marden Roy Thompson), Tanner William (Janna Renae Kerk), Logan John, Brooks Robert, Shane Andrew (Paxton Rae Bignell), Delaney Michelle, and Jordan McKenzie. Great Grandchildren are Henry Eugene Nelson, Charles Eugene Nelson, Ryan Wayne Rulon, Rosalynn Marie Rulon, Sloane Elizabeth Hacker, Elsie Mae Thompson, Kendall Colette Nelson, Kelsey Mary Nelson, and Rhett Kolbe Nelson. 

Funeral Services will be held Friday June 13, 2025, at St Rose of Lima Catholic Church with Rosary at 9:30am, Mass at 10:30am, Burial at 11:30am, and Reception at the church family center to celebrate Gene's life at noon. 

In memory of Gene, prayer partitions or donations may be made to St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. Your memories can be shared with Gene's family at www.brundagefuneralhome.com