Gene Arthur Nett

Jan. 27, 1937 - May 17, 2023

Gene Arthur Nett, 86, passed away on May 17, 2023, in Pharr, Texas. 

Gene, along with his twin sister JoAnn (Nelson), joined their big brother Russel C. Nett on Jan. 27, 1937. His parents were Augusta natives and cattle ranchers, Arthur C. and Ruby Nett. Gene and JoAnn loved every minute of growing up in their two-story farmhouse under Haystack Butte. Oh, the stories they told of favorite horses, funny dogs, branding cattle, high school rodeos, hard work, hot sun, cold winters, and playing in the creek! They graduated from Augusta High School in 1954. They both attended Montana State University and both received bachelor’s degrees in the field of education. 

Gene was a second Lieutenant in the Air National Guard after completing Air Force radar observer training at Harlingen and James Connally Air Force bases in Texas. He spent the majority of his life influencing, encouraging, and educating high school students as head football coach, head track coach and teacher. Dedicated to his students and student athletes for more than 30 years, he not only talked the talk, he walked the walk. “Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.” ~ Deuteronomy 32.2 

Gene had a few trial marriages before his true love Marjorie Weingart Gould became available. He married Margie in 1982 and he would be the first to say she improved his life immensely. They resided in Greybull, Wyo., where Gene continued to coach and teach, while Margie provided daycare. He did not have children of his own, but along with all the students he dedicated his time to, Margie had a grown daughter Rita Gould. Additionally, they loved the three Nolan boys,  Matthew, Marcus, and Lucas, as they supported them throughout high school sports and watched them become young men. 

After retirement, Gene and Margie traveled the country in a fifth wheel. While they stayed somewhere warm in the winter, they would often come back to Montana during the summer months to visit family and friends in Wisdom and the Flathead area. After five or six years of snowbirding, Gene and Margie bought a house in Harlingen, Texas. They enjoyed years of sunshine, gardening, good restaurants, plenty of golf, the beautiful South Padre Island, and fun times with friends, before they moved to assisted living. 

While Gene was a man of few words, his passing feels like a whole library has burned to the ground. He will be missed. Gene is survived by Margie’s daughter, Rita; his nephews John J. Nelson, Rohn R. Nelson, his niece, Shonda D. Nelson, and his friends, the Nolan family. 

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, his twin sister JoAnn N. Nelson and his brother, Russel C. Nett.