Eugene Behr

Eugene Edwin Behr, 69, of Grand Forks ND died on Thursday September 27, 2018 At Bethany Homes in Fargo following a battle with Early onset Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Gene was born on January 21, 1949 in St. Joseph Michigan the son of Edwin and Vera (Fraser) Behr. He grew up in St Joseph, where was an avid member of the high school marching band, playing trumpet for many years and excelled at drawing, painting and writing.  Shortly following his high school graduation in 1968 he avoided the draft by enlisting in the US Air Force and was sent to Vietnam and Thailand.

After his service in Vietnam he was stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base where he met Teri (Corpron) Behr and they got married on October 7, 1972 in Stanley ND. Gene and Teri lived for a short time in Indiana and eventually moved back to Grand Forks Air Force Base where Gene served in the Air Force until his retirement as a Master Sergeant in 1989. Part of the FTD 419 squadron he was a jet engine mechanic working on B52-G Bombers, B-1B bombers and KC 135 refuelers. His military career took him all over the world temporarily and he enjoyed being an instructor towards the end of his career.

In 1991 Gene graduated with honors from the Aviation Maintenance program at Thief River Falls, MN. He worked for Boeing and the Saudi Arabian Air Force from 1991-1995 in Riyadh. He was hired by Cirrus Air Design when the plant opened in Grand Forks and stayed until his retirement in 2008. Gene had a few sales jobs in the Auto industry, but mechanics and aviation were his go-to!  

Gene & Teri lived for many years in Manvel ND where they were very involved in the community. Gene was an active member of the Manvel Legion club where he served on the honor guard for many years. He also coached softball, was the sound engineer at church, assisted with 4-H projects, and even entered the elementary school talent show singing the Battle of the Green Berets! The small park across the street from the legion in Manvel Gene helped start, including securing the tank that sits out front. He was a volunteer First Responder in Manvel, as well as a master gardener with the Extension Service. He was a man of many talents and always offered a helping hand.

Gene loved music and enjoyed playing guitar, piano and in his later years taught grandson Ruairi how to play the trumpet! He was always singing along to songs from the 60’s or Simon & Garfunkel. He could cook anything on a grill, had a love for great wine and enjoyed attending live music events.  His travels with the Air Force took ignited a travel bug that continued until Teri’s passing. He visited over 72 countries, with Fiji being the one place he always wanted to go, but never made it. He was a great story teller, a wonderful photographer and continued drawing and painting with water colors up until early this summer when his body stopped cooperating.  

He had a great love of cars. He would spend hours wandering around classic car shows, watching races and rebuilding cars himself. Over the years he owned a 1964 MGb, 1967 MG, rebuilt a 1972 VW Beetle, and finally got the convertible he always wanted, a GT Mustang. In 2009 he obtained a patent from the United States patent office for his invention the flexible dirt track race car panel. He utilized his knowledge of aviation building to invent a panel for late model dirt track cars that was flexible, could withstand impact damage and last for numerous races. He spent many years with the Northern Late Model Racing Association touring the race tracks of the upper Midwest, assisting in the pits and driving the pace car in many races. 

He is survived by his children, Jennifer Behr-Soper and Jeffrey Behr both of Grand Forks. Grandchildren, Jace, Ruairi, Jordan, Vivianne and Liam. Siblings, Kenneth Behr & Kris Behr both of Idaho.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years Teri, and his parents Ed & Vera Behr.

A memorial service with full military honors will be held on Friday, October 5 at Noon, in the Trinity Lutheran Church in Manvel, ND.

Visitation will be for the hour before the service in the church.

Interment will take place at a later date in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND.