Dr. Eugene Glen Siemer, long-time Salida resident, passed away on Monday, January 6, 2025 at Heart of The Rockies Regional Medical Center in Salida. Gene was born January 3, 1926 in Mt. Healthy, Ohio to Carl G. and Gladys (Manahan) Siemer and had his 99th birthday while in the hospital. Gene graduated from Mt. Healthy High School (Ohio) in June 1944. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II (1945-1946) as a radio operator and radio repairman. His mother died while he was in the Army. Upon discharge, Gene moved to Fort Collins, Colorado to attend Colorado A&M College on the G-I Bill. Gene met Bettie Moul in Fort Collins in late 1947, and they married in December 1949.
He earned his BS degree in Agronomy from Colorado A&M in June 1950. Gene and Bettie attended Columbia Bible College (now Columbia International University) in Columbia, SC for missionary Bible training from 1950 to 1953; they hoped to serve as missionaries to Africa. Although ultimately unable to serve as missionaries as they had planned, Gene and Bettie retained a lifelong interest in and love for foreign missions. Gene earned an MS in Field Crops from Colorado State University in August 1961 and a PhD in Agronomy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in June 1964. Following his graduation, he began work as an agronomist for the Colorado State University Agricultural Experiment Station in Grand Junction, Colorado. In 1968, Gene took a one-year’s sabbatical to work for the UT-AEC Agricultural Research Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, researching the effects of radiation on plants, in conjunction with the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Site. Gene returned to work for CSU Agricultural Experiment Station, Mountain Meadow Research Center in Gunnison, Colorado, in fall 1969 and worked there until his retirement in 1994. Gene’s work for CSU, both in Grand Junction and Gunnison, focused on working with ranchers throughout the state to improve hay yields. In later years, Gene also worked as a research consultant for the Denver Water Board, working to determine how much water could rightfully be sold from a number of ranches in South Park for use on the Front Range of Colorado. Gene received the following awards in recognition of his service to Colorado agriculture and soil conservation: Gunnison Soil Conservation District (1991)–Outstanding Cooperator Award, for outstanding accomplishments in the conservation of soil, water and related resources; Colorado Chapter, Soil & Water Conservation Society (Nov. 1991)–for outstanding contributions toward increasing the knowledge of intermountain meadow ecosystems and organization of the 3rd Intermountain Meadow Symposium; USDA Soil Conservation Service (Mar. 1993)–for leadership in research, demonstration of effective pasture and hayland management techniques, and cooperative efforts with USDA-SCS throughout Colorado; Colorado Hay and Forage Assoc. (1993)–for years of service and valuable contributions to the industry; Advisory Committee to the Mountain Meadow Research Center (1994)–for countless years of undying dedication and perseverance to the Mountain Meadow Research Center Program (1962-1994); Colorado Hay and Forage Assoc. (1996)–Outstanding Member Award for many years of service to the industry. Gene and Bettie moved to Salida in 1993 from Gunnison, Colorado. Gene was a member of the Temple Baptist Church, where he enjoyed teaching Sunday School Bible classes. Gene’s hobbies were geology and traveling to see and learn about new places. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, wife Bettie, and brothers Carl Roland Siemer and John “Jack” Siemer. He is survived by sons Daniel (Lana) Siemer of Schererville, IN, and David (Annette) Siemer of Box Elder, SD, daughter Kathleen (John) Stadum of Spokane, WA, and by grandchildren Ruth Siemer, Glen (Kristi) Siemer, Amanda (Danny) Seim, Rebecca (Ben) Hoeft, Jennifer (Ryan) Benzschawel, Katie Siemer, Jeremiah (Brittni) Boeckman, Tamara Boeckman, Sarah (Cody) Schell, Rachel Boeckman, and 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral Services are set for 1:00 pm on Friday, January 17, 2025 at the Temple Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Columbia International University at http://www.ciu.edu/give or mailed to CIU, 7435 Monticello Road, Columbia, SC 29203 (please indicate that the gift is in honor of Dr. Siemer) or through Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home to Temple Baptist Church.
On-line condolences can be sent to the family at lewisandglenn.com. Arrangements are with Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.
