Eugene Francis Cadwell was born the second child to Francis and Eleanor (Dinstel) Cadwell on May 22, 1952. Gene was brought home to the ranch at Ridge, MT where his family continued to live in a small one room cabin for a short time before the ranch house was built that year.
He attended the small one room school at Ridge until high school. His children were told numerous stories of adventures on the trips to school. One story often told was of one of his apparently frequent trip through a culvert that met an abrupt halt when a skunk was discovered. The retreat however was made difficult by his winter coat that bunched up around him. Another story involved an ornery horse that preferred not having the children on her back and his older sister, Paula, that wasn’t particularly sympathetic to her younger brother’s plight. When Gene reached high school he spent the week in Broadus going to school and would come home to Ridge for the weekend. He was never much of a cook and his attempts at keeping himself nourished while in Broadus during the week involved heating cans of soup on the burner of the stove to avoid washing dishes.
After Gene graduated from high school in 1970 he went to a business college in Rapid City for a year and then to Calvary Christian College in OH for a year. He then went to college At Hobe Sound Bible College in Hobe Sound, FL. While there in college, he met Debra Koon. They both graduated in May of 1976 and then were married on June 18th of that year. After they were married they lived in Isabella, PA for about 9 years. Gene helped his father in law pastor the church there and also worked in construction. While they lived in Isabella their Two children, David and Bethany were born.
In 1985 the family moved to Northwest Indian Bible School in Alberton, MT. Gene had helped with building the boys dorm building shortly before and when he returned he and Debra agreed that God was moving on their hearts to help at the school. Gene and Debra served as the boy’s dorm parents, teaching, and Gene doing the maintenance there at the school for 7 years and then spent another year out of the boy’s dorm.
In 1993 the family moved back to the ranch, where Gene was raised, to help there. Gene continued to live there until his death as the 3rd generation to work the ranch. Gene pastored the church in Ridge for many years. He and Debra were also very involved in the church camp they started there in 1995. It was a large part of their year.
In 2014, Debra passed away suddenly 3 days after Christmas.
In January 2017, Gene Married Rebecca Plummer. They continued to be involved in the church camp and travelled some as well doing children’s work for camps.
Gene and Becky were tragically taken together in a head on collision on December 9, 2025.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Debra, his sister, Paula, and his brother, Steven.
He is survived by his two children, David and Julia (Weicht) Cadwell of Ridge, and Bethany and husband Martin Hunt, and their children Carolina, Georgia, Dakota, Alaska, Kentucky, Montana, and Tennessee of Buffalo, WY and his younger sister Rebecca and Roger Bingaman of Rapid City.
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday December 19, 2025
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
Broadus, Montana 59317
Interment
Following the funeral service
Friday December 19, 2025
Ridge Cemetery
Carter County, Montana
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday December 19, 2025
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
Broadus, Montana 59317
Interment
Following the funeral service
Friday December 19, 2025
Ridge Cemetery
Carter County, Montana
Share
David Gordon says
It is hard to believe how suddenly life can change! You are in our thoughts and prayers David and Bethany. Trusting God to comfort you and your families through this difficult time.
Donnie (Roubideaux) Sedelmeier says
Rev. Gene Cadwell, thanks you for your ministry and service to Native Americans at Northwest Indian Bible School & Spring Creek Indian Holiness Camp! You have touched many lives! Condolences to David & Bethany, prayers are with you!
Lisa Tescher says
You are in our prayers David, Julia,, Bethany and Martin, as you navigate this terrible time. Life definitely changes overnight at times. All our love to your families.
Laura Lee and Vic Ullrich says
We are remembering Gene with smiles. We loved his quirky sense of humor and admired his unstoppable faith. This is such a tragic end to their beautiful God filled lives. The last time I saw him and met Becky, we discussed that we had both ended up being preachers, and that, No, I wasn’t still playing the tuba. He teased me mercilessly in band class about the tuba! My prayers go out to his wonderful kids and grandkids and the rest of the family. Things have been rough in the Ridge country this year. We hold you all in prayer.
Ron&Velma Taylor says
We are so sorry for the families and the pain and heart ache you are going through right now.Just know they are in Heaven now. You are in our prayers.
Avin Rogers says
Gene and I have been best of friends ever since we were freshman in high school. I will miss visiting with him and Becky, but I know they are with God now.
Cody Morris says
To the family of Gene and Becky Cadwell:
I would like to express my deepest condolences for your loss! I have known the Cadwell family all my life, as my family was neighbors to yours on the ranch for many years.. I am sorry that I cannot support the family at the funeral, as I have a doctors appointment in Billings that day. I pray for peace for all of you.
Moses Havo says
David, Bethany , and family . My prayers are with you in your loss.
Barry & Pattie Lippencott says
Bethany, Martin, David,Julia
We were very sorry to hear of the tragic accident that took the life of your father and his wife Becky. Pattie and I have fond memories of visiting with the family when they lived in Isabella, PA. You all are in our thoughts and prayers.
Ella Mae Morris Drane says
So very sorry for your family’s heartache the Cadwell family’s were our neighbors for 40+ years and very highly respected neighbors
You are all in our thoughts and prayers 🙏 🙏 💞 💞.
Robert Bryan. says
Gene Caldwell is a gentleman and a saint. His Patience and insights were unique and always insightful. I have never heard him complain or speak unwisely. But I have heard him pray with great love, and kindness. Especially for those with whom he knew, were struggling to understand.
He too, was a silent warrior for the kingdom of God.
He will be sorely missed.