The funeral for Eugene V. Wiest, Sun Lakes, AZ formerly of Wishek, ND will be held Saturday, March 11, 2017 at 11:00 AM at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Wishek, ND. Visitation will be Friday, March 10, 2017 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Burial will be at St. Luke Lutheran Cemetery in Wishek, ND.

Eugene Wiest was born May 21, 1925, the son of Emil P. and Maria (Thurn) Wiest and was raised on the family farm near Venturia, ND, seventeen miles southwest of Wishek. He attended grade school in the Blumenthal School District near Venturia and graduated from Zeeland High School. After attending Ellendale College for one year, he attended North Dakota State University at Fargo, ND where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy in 1948.

Following his professional internship at Service Drug in Fargo, he was inducted into the United States Army and was stationed at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. as a pharmacist. After discharge from the army, he purchased the Ashley Drug Company and operated it for a short time. until a group of Wishek businessmen convinced him to move to Wishek where he established Wiest Service Drug on July 4, 1949. In 1955 he built the structure that became the permanent business of Wiest Service Drug.

On September 3, 1950, he married Elaine Bender, daughter of Phillip and Rosina Bender of Wishek. They were blessed with three children, Mark, Todd, and Lori who will forever be grateful for their parent's love, support, and generosity; the talent, intelligence, and work ethic instilled and nurtured in them; and the opportunities that they made possible for them.

Aside from Eugene's busy professional career as a pharmacist and business owner, he found time to become involved in the community. He was an alderman in Wishek and from 1970-1974 served as the Mayor of the City of Wishek. He was appointed to the North Dakota Law Enforcement Council representing the North Dakota League of Cities, chairman of the James River Valley Health Planning Council, director of the Wishek Community Hospital, a member of the NDSU Alumni Board and of the NDSU Pharmacy Curriculum Committee in Fargo, a member of the Wishek Association of Commerce, a charter member and president of the Wishek Lions Club, organizer and first president of the Wishek Eagles Club, and a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church, where he served as president of the 6th District Lutheran Brotherhood. He was also president and director of the Wishek School Board.

After 34 years of ownership of Wiest Service Drug, he sold his store in 1982. He and Elaine moved to Sun Lakes, Arizona where he resided throughout the remainder of his life. He continued to serve his profession by doing part time pharmacy relief work in the state of North Dakota and in Arizona and in 1992 was appointed by the governor of Arizona to serve on the board of directors of the Arizona Department of Economic Security Division of Developmental Disabilities.

Throughout his life, Eugene was a thoughtful, generous, and caring man, always working towards progress. He was devoted to his family and to the profession of pharmacy as well as the health needs of Wishek and the surrounding area. He provided leadership in establishing and pursuing the medical, educational, and civic visions of the community. He also enjoyed remaining involved in politics at the local, state, and national levels.
Eugene died Monday, February 27, 2017 at his home in Sun Lakes, AZ.  He was 91 years old.

He is survived in life by his sister Luella Fetzer of California, son Mark in Arizona, son Todd and his wife Barb in California, daughter Lori in Washington, granddaughters Hilary and Megan in Arizona. Eugene was preceded in death by his wife and love of his life, Elaine, who died in 1990, his parents Emil and Marie Wiest, his brothers Helmond, Ferdinand, and Alvin, his sisters Ruth Lapp, and Ada Reineking and his daughter-in-law Marilyn Wiest. Share memories and sign online guest book at www.dahlstromfuneralservice.com. Dahlstrom Funeral Home in Wishek, ND entrusted with arrangements.