Gene Ray Ligocki, born in Billings, Montana on July 11^th, 1980 passed away tragically on July 6^th, 2025 following an accident on the Stillwater River.  Gene was raised in Sheridan, Wyoming by Michael Frank Ligocki and Bertha (Trujillo) Willey alongside his siblings; brother Marty, sisters Leslie and Susan and brother Mike Ligocki.

Gene loved sports and made lifelong friends playing on the baseball fields and basketball courts, from little league to playing on adult softball, soccer and basketball teams as often as he could.  His love for basketball lead to his employment at Normative Services, Inc where he coached adolescent youth in treatment, often teaching the fundamentals of the game to kids who never had the opportunity to participate in team sports.  Gene had an amazing ability to connect with all youth and seeing him lead a group of kids who had never played together, become a team was truly inspiring.  It was during the 2003 NSI basketball season that he met his future wife, Jennifer Drell.  Their son was born in the Fall of 2004 (the year the Boston Red Sox broke the curse and won the World Series!).

Gene was also a “pretty good” pool player and his love of the game of pool and the community he found lead to Gene establishing The Top of the Rims, a non-profit billiards organization in Billings, Montana.  In doing so, Gene truly found his stride, making connections throughout the state to promote the sport of pool and coordinate tournaments that grew in size each year and spread across the state.  Gene “never met a stranger” and had the ability to bring people together to create life long friendships.  He was larger than life and his laugh, ability to make others smile and feel remarkable will be missed by all who knew and loved him.  Though he loved pool and was proud of each and every successful pool tournament he facilitated or matches he won, nothing compares to how much he loved his son, Michael Christopher Ligocki.  He took as many opportunities as he could to tell his son he loved him and he was so proud of the amazing young man Michael has grown to be.

Gene also loved fishing, which began as a young boy fishing alongside his father.  He loved rock hunting, baseball card collecting and riding the river with his brother Mike. His whole face lit up when he was “gonna be on the river.”  Knowing Gene, the smile on his face and the laughter, inappropriate jokes and talks of the next trip, made Sundays on the river with brother Mike as near to perfect as possible.

Gene was preceded in death by his father, Michael Frank Ligocki. He is survived by his mother, Bertha Willey, sisters Leslie Lube, Susan Kraft and  brother Marty Martinez all of Sheridan and Mike Ligocki of Billings, Montana; numerous nieces and nephews and his son Michael Christopher Ligocki of Billings, Montana and his former wife Jennifer Ligocki, as they were “homebase” for each other and remained united in raising an amazing young man.  Words cannot describe how much we will all miss him and how very loved Gene was by so many.

To Honor Gene Ligocki's Life, a public viewing will be held Friday morning July 18, 2025 from 9:30 am to 10:00 am at Champion Kane Funeral Home with a Rosary from 10:00 am to 10:30 am with Father Glenn Whewell officiating. Interment will immediately follow the Rosary, the burial will take place in Juniper Heights section of the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery. With A Celebration of life at 2:00 pm at the Eagles on Commercial Drive with a reception to follow.

Online condolences may be written at www.kanefuneral.com.

Champion Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

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