Gene Upshaw passed away from natural causes December 6, 2021 at home in Helena, MT. He was 66 years old.
Gene was born February 26, 1955 in Havre, MT to Joseph (Joe) Weldon and Gloria Eloise (Skoyen) Upshaw of nearby Chinook.
Gene was the youngest of three sons born to Joe and Gloria, who were wonderful loving parents with great values and who gave Gene a great start in life. Chinook was a small town and Gene was blessed to have grandparents and many relatives live nearby, engendering his strong appreciation for and love of family.
In 1961, Joe accepted a full time position with the Montana Army National Guard and the family moved to Bozeman, MT, a special town to grow up during the 1960’s with the great outdoors just out the back door. The boys had many fun adventures around town, camping along the Gallatin River, visiting the national parks and taking road trips around Montana. Gene attended elementary and middle schools in Bozeman.
In 1969 Joe received a Guard promotion and the family moved to Helena, MT where Gene attended junior high and graduated from Helena High School in 1973. He was a fine athlete, being a starting defensive back on the football team and a gifted quarter-miler on the track team. Gene enjoyed fishing and snow skiing and made many lifelong Helena friends during those years.
After high school, Gene attended the University of Montana in Missoula. Following his college years, Gene was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad and the Interwest Electrical Company.
In 1983, Gene married Charisse Bertot of Green River, WY and they made their home in Farmington, UT. Gene and Charisse later moved to Bozeman and operated a Rainbow International commercial carpet cleaning franchise. They were quite successful, and Gene was invited to transfer to the corporate headquarters in Waco, TX to head the franchisee training department.
After several years with Rainbow, Gene joined a Texas company specializing in fire and flood remediation and reconstruction and worked as an estimator and project manager. Gene and Charisse then moved to move to the Denver area, where Gene was employed by a similar company doing larger remediation projects.
Later, Gene joined a Denver-based residential real estate development concern and helped manage large projects in the Denver area and southern Missouri and northern Arkansas near Branson, MO until his retirement. Gene and Charisse eventually parted ways, but both remained close and supportive friends. In 2010, Gene returned to Helena to help his aging parents Joe and Gloria.
Gene had many great times with family including Upshaw/Jacobsen/Sheets reunions in Chinook, visiting Skoyen relatives, lefse making parties in Helena and at brother Gary’s place in Washington and much more. He liked road bicycling, hiking, fishing, car road trips, and off-road adventures in his Toyota pickup. He made new friends in Helena and would have an occasional cold one and shoot the breeze with them at Hap’s and around town. Gene was also a very avid reader, preferring historical novels and mystery/crime/political thrillers.
Gene is remembered as an intelligent, happy, carefree, thoughtful, friendly and sensitive person. He will indeed be missed by his many relatives and friends.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents Joe and Gloria, his beloved brother Gary Alan Upshaw, and his dear nephew Joseph (Joey) Evan Upshaw.
Gene is survived by his brother Dale Upshaw of Helena; Aunt Wanda Sheets of Gresham, OR; nephew Curtis Upshaw and niece Jennifer Upshaw of Washington State; niece Erica Austin, her husband Damon, and their children Max and Dahlia, all of Laguna Beach, CA; and many cousins and friends around the country.
Rest in good peace Gene. We will all miss you and be with your spirit always. A memorial and celebration of Gene’s life will be held in the spring of 2022. Arrangements will be announced at a future date.
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brett collins says
Happy Trails Buddy, you were always faster than me and you beat me in this race as well,…but, tik tok.
We pulled off some fun stunts didn’t we? I remember “the Mav”, complete with a factory installed, under dash, 45 rpm record player,..the only one I ever saw. Joe and Glo were great people and it showed in your personality.
You, me and Duke in that Toranado, shootin’ Gophers.
Sounds like you had a good, interesting life with many changes of scene and some love.
Good friends well met, We’ll meet again.
Bert