The Rev. Gene Virgil Sikkink, 71, Green Valley, Ariz., died Friday, June 23, 2006, at the Hospice of Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital in Luverne from cancer.A memorial service will be at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, July 2, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills. Fellowship and visitation will follow the memorial service. Gene Sikkink was born to Virgil and Marie (Bergan) Sikkink on Nov. 28, 1934, in Florence, S.D. He attended Watertown High School, Watertown, S.D., and graduated in 1952. He attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., and graduated in 1956. He continued graduate study at Luther Seminary in St. Paul.He married Barbara Nelson on Aug. 16, 1958, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills. In 1960 he was ordained in the ELCA Lutheran church. After marriage the couple served churches in Camarillo, Calif., Waseca, West Concord, Minneapolis, Princeton, all in Minnesota, and Oakes, N.D. He retired in 1996 to Green Valley. In retirement he did volunteer work with YWAM, at the University of Nations in Kona, Hawaii, Sheldon Jackson College, Sitka, Alaska, and volunteered in the church and community in Green Valley. He enjoyed playing piano for nursing homes and assisted living homes. Rev. Sikkink was a member of Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley. He enjoyed musical concerts, writing, canoeing, world travel, reading, drama, scrabble, and finished a marathon.Survivors include his wife, Barbara Sikkink, three children, Dan (Tamara) Lakeville, David (Andrea) Sikkink, Milalani, Hawaii, and Debra (Jeff) Wilson, Crystal; five grandchildren, Max, Kate, Anna, Marta and Joel Sikkink; one brother, Gary Sikkink, Riverton, Wyo., and one sister, Florence McNerney, St. Paul. Rev. Sikkink was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Connie Bowen.Memorials may be directed to Bread for the World and Lutheran World Relief.Hartquist Funeral Home, Engebretson Chapel, Luverne, is in charge of arrangements.