Duane Bartelt

Duane Bartelt, 86, a long-time resident of St. Peter, Minnesota, passed away on July 18, 2026, in Le Sueur, Minnesota.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at Skroch Funeral Chapel in Elkton, South Dakota. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Duane Bartelt was born on May 6, 1940 in Elkton, South Dakota, to parents Alfred and Margaret (Hammer) Bartelt. Born with a proud spirit of service and adventure, Duane served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1958 to 1962. Following his honorable discharge, he lived in San Francisco for several years, working as an assistant manager for a Standard Oil station. In 1968, Duane found his permanent home in St. Peter, where he dedicated decades of hard work to the city. Though he faced a severe, life-threatening injury after being electrocuted while working as a city lineman in 1971—spending four resilient months in the hospital—Duane returned to serve the community he loved. He spent the next 25 years as a materials clerk, purchasing agent, inventory clerk, and Safety Director for the City of St. Peter until his well-earned retirement on May 31, 2002.

Beyond his career, Duane was a man of many passions. He was an avid coin collector, a hobby photographer, and a true automotive enthusiast. Nothing brought him quite as much joy as his beloved Corvette. Among the most exciting highlights of his life were the day he bought that car and the unforgettable journey driving most of Route 66 in it. Duane also treasured his vacations, from trips to Las Vegas to camping up north with his family at Lake Carlos. He loved to travel to Acapulco, Mexico.

Duane's greatest legacy lives on through his family. He is survived by his daughter, Linda, and her husband, Howard, a horticulturist who lived close by; and his son, Chuck, a ski instructor, DNR worker, and Backroads guide. He was a proud grandfather to Gary LaGow, Jason LaGow, Christopher LaGow, and Dennis Chevalier; and a great-grandfather to Tyler, Ethan, and Matthew LaGow; Madelyn Chevalier; and Marissa and Abraham LaGow.