An individual is more than the way they died. His death does not define his legacy. He had talents, made contributions and touched others' lives in meaningful ways. He was and still is deeply loved and missed. 

Out on the windswept plains of this world, where a man’s grit is measured by the miles he’s walked and the dust on his boots, Gene Russell Bartnes made his mark.

Born on June 10, 1980, to Eugene and Nena (Seward) Bartnes, Gene was raised on the Bartnes farm, where days started early and the work was honest. It was there he learned the ways of hard work—breaking and riding horses, baling hay, fencing, caring for the animals, tinkering on anything with an engine from lawn mowers to tractors to semis. Those long days on the farm demanded both body and mind, leaving a deep kind of weariness that was matched only by a quiet, well-earned satisfaction.

Gene graduated from Detroit Lakes High School with the Class of 1998, and some folks might remember him rolling through town in his mint green ’66 Chevy—easy to spot and hard to forget, much like the man himself. High school memories also include lifelong friendships with Kelly Kolnes and Josh "Bubba" Samuelson, two names that stayed part of his story long after the school days were done.

From those fields and fences, Gene grew into the kind of man you didn’t have to ask twice for help—the kind who showed up before the question was even finished.

Gene also made many memories and lifelong friendships at the Bitker home, where time was well spent turning wrenches, working on vehicles, and sharing good company. It was there he became one half of the great Bambino Brothers demolition car duo alongside his best friend and brother Dave—a pair known for their grit, laughter, and a little bit of ice in their veins.

Gene started his working days off the farm baling hay with Dave on the Cleveland Farm. You know the Clevelands? Good people. He also worked just down the road at Heitmans Greenhouse, and under the previous owner of Country Fields, and later at Houghs Landscaping, learning the value of honest labor and a hard-earned dollar. For a spell in the early 2000s, he later headed down to Waconia, Minnesota, where he put in honest work at Tamarack Landscaping. Like everything he took on, he gave it his all—earning respect through hard work, a steady hand, and the kind of dependability a man could hang his hat on.

Upon moving back to Detroit Lakes, Gene kept his hands busy and his work honest, putting in time with Feldt Plumbing & Excavating, B&D Transport, and Detroit Lakes Disposal and Anderson Septic. If there was work to be done, chances were you might find him lending a hand at the Okeson Farm—never one to sit idle when there was a job needing doing.

In 2005, Gene was united in marriage to Emily Blair, and together they built a life rooted in love and family. From that union came his greatest pride and joy—his sons, Cody and Andrew, whom he cherished and guided with the same steady hand and strong values he carried throughout his life.

In 2016, Gene was united in marriage to Jill Feuillerat, and was blessed again with two more bouncing baby boys, Jake and Billy. His family was the heart of his world, and he took great pride in raising his boys with the same grit, kindness, and love for the outdoors that defined his own life.

God blessed him with Koltyn Wayne in 2022, a child who brought him great joy and completed the circle of the family he held so dear. Koltyn was his sidekick up to the very end, rarely far from his side and always part of the trail he walked.

Gene had a deep love for deer hunting, a calling he carried with pride and patience. He loved nothing more than being out at the Bartnes farm, hunting alongside his father, brother, sons, nephews and brother-in-laws. More than that, he made sure to pass that love down to the next generation of Bartnes Boys, teaching them the ways of the woods, the value of quiet mornings, and the bond that comes from sharing the hunt side by side.

Gene was there for his boys in every way he could be, and even when it wasn’t hunting, time spent fishing with them was a joy he held close. He was proud to serve as a Fishing Captain for the boys’ fishing league, guiding them not just on the water, but in life. You couldn’t miss Gene at his boys’ sporting events—just look for the white, sleeveless V-neck t-shirt in the stands or along the fence, cheering them on with a proud smile and a voice that carried across the field, the track or the mat.

To his nieces and nephews, Uncle Gene could be a blessing or a curse—you might walk away with a dollar in your hand or the living daylights scared out of you, depending on the moment. Either way, you knew you were loved.

Gene’s love for life also ran deep into the world of westerns, old and new. He could quote lines from John Wayne films without hesitation, and there was something about the wide-open country, the code of honor, and the steady strength of those stories that felt like home to him. Many would say he was born a hundred years too late—more suited for saddle leather, campfire nights, and the open range than the modern world he lived in.

Gene wasn’t one for grand speeches or polished words. He lived plain and true, the way folks used to—by handshake, by hard work, and by standing his ground when it counted. Whether the days were easy or hard, he met them head-on, with a stubborn determination and a loyalty that never wavered.

Those who crossed paths with him knew they were better for it. He carried himself with a quiet dignity, and though he may not have sought the spotlight, his presence was felt just the same—steady as a fence post and twice as dependable.

On March 30, 2026, at the age of 45, Gene rode ahead, taken unexpected-like, leaving behind a silence that echoes across the hearts of those who knew him. Now he’s gone beyond the horizon, where the trails stretch long and the sun sets low. Though his boots no longer walk among us, the tracks he left behind won’t soon fade.

Gene was preceded in death by his mother, Nena (Seward) Bartnes; his son, Koltyn Wayne; grandparents Russell and Agnes Bartnes, Francis Seward, Viola Seward and Allen Knopf; aunts Janice (Bartnes) Freligh and Sharon (Bartnes) Dietz; uncles Robert Bartnes, David Bartnes, Joe Seward,Jeff Seward; and cousin Joe Mackner.

Gene is survived by his father, Eugene Bartnes; his sons, Cody, Andrew (their mother Emily), Jake and Billy (their mother Jill); his sisters, Kelly (Matt) Carrier and Janice Bartnes (Shane LaFriniere); his brother, Dave Bartnes (Gabby Brendefur); and his sister-in-law, Andrea Bartnes. He is also remembered by his nieces and nephews: Taylor LaFriniere, Ashtyn Carrier, Tori LaFriniere, Ethan Carrier, Mason Carrier, Kaden Bartnes, Kaitlyn Carrier, Kale Bartnes, Kameron Bartnes, Kacie Bartnes, and Bodie Bartnes. Uncle Burt Bartnes and Aunts Mary Boit and Dawn Seward and Vicki Alder and many cousins.

Think of Gene when you hear AC/DC, Don Williams, Ronnie Milsap and country songs like "Should've Been a Cowboy", by Toby Keith. "I should have been a cowboy, I should've learned to rope and ride, wearn' my six shooter, ridin' my pony on a cattle drive. Stealin' the young girls' hearts just like Gene and Roy (but we replaced Roy with Dave), singin' those campfire songs, woah I should've been a cowboy". Think of him when a John Wayne line rings out across the screen—because he lived by that same code of grit, loyalty, and heart. He could quote those films word for word, and they felt less like movies and more like memories of the life he wished he was born into.

"They say he has Grit. I wanted a man with Grit" - Mattie Ross (True Grit 1969)

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude for the love and support shown during this time.

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For those wanting to send their condolences, please send to C/O Grace Lutheran Church 213 Roosevelt Ave Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 218-847-4568