Gene C. Wells

Gene Carroll Wells, age 94 died April 24, 2026.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 MDT, Friday, May 1, 2026 at St Theresa’s Catholic Church in Carson, ND. Final resting place will be the Carson Community Cemetery with reception held at Hammer Down in Carson.

Gene was born on September 26, 1931, at home in Brisbane, North Dakota, to Dorothea (Hostetler) and Carroll F. Wells. He joined older brothers Erwin and Delbert and sisters Mavis and Joyce followed later.

Gene attended a one-room schoolhouse through the eighth grade before beginning a life shaped by hard work, curiosity, & quiet determination. He proudly served in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany, where he developed a fondness for pizza and famously claimed to know just three German words: pizza, beer, and thank you.

After his service, Gene returned to the family ranch. Life took a meaningful turn when he met the new schoolmarm, Carolyn Miller. Gene and Carolyn were married on November 20, 1959 and together they built a life rooted in love, family and the land. They raised five children: Jennifer, Craig, Kathy, Lisa and Barbara.

One day, Gene saw a picture of an Arabian horse in a magazine and decided he needed one. That single image grew into a lifelong passion for raising and showing Arabian horses. Through years of travel and competition, Gene formed lasting friendships and earned deep respect in the horse community. One of his proudest moments came when he ran a reining pattern without a bridle—after already competing once with one—and the judge declared the second run even better.

Gene was known as a good neighbor and a kind, dependable man, always willing to lend a helping hand. He loved farming and ranching and found great joy fishing the local Cannonball River, where he earned a reputation as quite the fisherman.

Gene is survived by his daughters Jennifer and Barbara (Steve Williams); and his grandchildren, Katie Nelson, Matthew Hartman, Marlin Wells, Jeffrey, Jacob and Kaycee Eagleton and Ryan Williams, along with 6 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Carolyn; children Kathy, Craig and Lisa; his son-in-law Mike Hartman; and his brothers Erwin and Delbert.

Gene’s life was one of quiet strength, deep loyalty, and enduring love—for family, friends, horses, and the land he called home. He instilled his work ethic in his children.