Bruce Roland Winterfeldt

Bruce Roland Winterfeldt, 79, of Fergus Falls, passed away peacefully on September 10, 2026, at PioneerCare Cottages, Fergus Falls, MN.

Born in Glencoe, Minnesota, Bruce's early years were marked by frequent moves as his father's social work career took the family to communities throughout Minnesota. He attended schools in South St. Paul, Thief River Falls and Detroit Lakes before graduating from Fergus Falls High School in 1964. He earned his civil engineering degree from North Dakota State School of Science in 1966. It was during college that he met Nancy Luebke. They married on January 13, 1968, beginning a partnership that lasted more than 58 years.

Bruce dedicated much of his career to Minnesota's natural resources. He was a 30-year veteran of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, serving as Trails and Waterways supervisor in Fergus Falls. His career also included work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service and 13 years with a local surveying and engineering firm.

Bruce was especially proud of his work making Northwest Minnesota's lakes and waterways more accessible. He built lasting partnerships with landowners, county engineers, lake associations, sportsmen and snowmobile clubs, creating trails and water accesses where none had existed. He helped develop new approaches to building and maintaining accesses, including a system using concrete hog-farm slats that stood up to ice damage and made repairs easier. Through relationships with landowners, he helped connect the Central Lakes Trail from Fergus Falls to Alexandria for pedestrians, bicyclists and snowmobilers. His work also helped bring modern accesses, floating docks and fishing piers to the area.

Outside of work, Bruce was happiest outdoors. He was an avid bass and muskie fisherman, upland game hunter, hiker, birdwatcher, and rock collector often accompanied by his beloved German Shorthair, Jena. He played basketball, softball, and enjoyed following sports. Bruce had an extraordinary knowledge of Minnesota's wildlife and natural resources-there was hardly a lake or body of water in Otter Tail County he didn't know.

Meticulous in his work and at home, Bruce was equally memorable for his sarcastic sense of humor and unmistakable laugh. He was a person who knew his surroundings, cared about the outdoors and took pride in leaving things better than he found them.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughter Jodi (Jim) Heilman, Fargo, ND; step-grandchildren Hollyanne (Dan) Duda and Audrey Heilman; and step great-grandchildren Liv, Jory and Rhett Duda, and Osborne and Ohara Lindberg. He is also survived by sisters Linda Mattson and Lauri (Jim Miller) Winterfeldt, along with many nieces and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roland and Edna (Albrecht) Winterfeldt; parents-in-law Fred and Lorraine (Heitkamp) Luebke; and brother in-law Greg Mattson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vivie Hospice, PioneerCare Memory Care, or a wildlife conservation organization of the donor's choice.

Celebration of Life: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 26, 2026 at Olson Funeral and Cremation in Fergus Falls, with visitation one-hour prior to the service.

Clergy: Chaplain Krehl Stringer

Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral and Cremation in Fergus Falls.

Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com