Eugene "Gene" Russel Payne

Eugene “Geno” Payne, age 87, of Parkers Prairie, died on Monday, May 11, 2026, at St. Williams Living Center.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Parkers Prairie with Rev. Kirk Lee presiding. Music will be provided by organist, Maureen Diedrich. Interment will take place at Parkers Prairie Cemetery. A visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church.

Eugene “Geno” Payne was born on July 26, 1938, to Calvin and Thelma (Hanson) Payne in Bertha. He was baptized and confirmed at Elmo Lutheran Church. Gene attended Parkers Prairie High School and graduated in 1957. Following his education, he married Marion Miller on April 16, 1957. To this marriage, four sons were born, Steven, Gregory, Randy, and Douglas. Gene was known as the “Horse Whisperer” having a passion for horses. After managing the Tip Top Riding Stable in Miltona for two years, he followed his dream of being a cowboy and moved his family to the sandhills of Valentine, Nebraska. The ranch consisted of 17,000 acres where 1000 head of calves were born each year. Gene did all the ranch chores but his real passion and enjoyment was training the draft and saddle horses. After eight years of living his dream, he moved his family to Mound, Minnesota to improve the education of his sons and worked for three years in manufacturing. He then went into the construction business, mainly concrete. In 1973, Gene purchased his parent’s farm and returned to Parkers Prairie where he farmed for a couple of years before forming his own concrete construction business. In 1979, he and Marion purchased Sandee’s Café in Parkers Prairie. It was known as Marion’s Café and operated the café for 15 years until Marion’s death ion 1996.

Gene married Barbara (Stigen) Simonson in 2000, and together they built a new home on his farm. They continued working in construction side by side. Together they shared a passion for horses, trail riding, camping, dancing, and travel. Gene was an active member of the Parkers Prairie Lions Club earning the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. He was also a member of the Commercial Club, Prairie Eagle Saddle Club, Midcentral Draft Horse Club, Parkers Prairie Cemetery Board as sextant, Parkers Prairie Township supervisor, and President of Elmo Lutheran Church Council.

He is preceded in death by his first wife, Marion; parents; in-laws, Melvin and Ethel Miller; brother-in-law, Ernie Miller; sons, Gregory and Randy; brothers, David and Dennis; and sister, Maxine.

Gene is survived by his wife of 25 years, Barb; sons, Steven (Teri) of Parkers Prairie and Douglas (Carole) of Ocala, Florida; stepson, Joey (Stephanie) Simonson of Parkers Prairie; sisters-in-law, Anna Wark of Alexandria and Sherrie Payne of Richfield; grandchildren, nieces, and nephews and a host of friends.

Urn Bearers are Joey Simonson and Skip Woodworth.