Preston Samuel was born on February 6, 2001, to Jessica Neulieb and Timothy Barney.

Preston’s early childhood came with more challenges than any child should have had to carry. Still, he found so much happiness in the people he loved most, especially his siblings Jadie, Alyssa, and Jacob. With them, he could laugh freely, let his guard down, and just be a kid.

Preston entered foster and residential care during childhood. When he was 11, he met Christopher Spangler and Kayla Bruce, who later adopted both Preston and his brother Jacob. When Romin joined the family, Preston gained a built-in best friend.

Family was incredibly important to Preston. Even when accepting the safety and predictability of being loved did not come easily, the people closest to him made room for all of him: the funny, stubborn, complicated, and tender parts.

Preston could make almost anyone laugh, and you could sit with him for hours talking about absolutely nothing and somehow leave with a story worth telling.

He loved art, music, food, cars, clothes, and anything he considered part of his “drip.” School was often more about friendships than academics, and he loved being active. He participated in basketball, football, and cross country. Romin admired him so much that when it was his turn to play football, he chose the same jersey number Preston had worn.

During his time in Duluth, Preston discovered that running helped quiet his mind. He completed 5Ks, 10Ks, and eventually the Fargo Half Marathon. He found that same peace outdoors through camping, hiking, and family adventures to national parks, state parks, wilderness areas, and beaches.

Of all the roles Preston held in life, being a brother may have been the one he treasured most. His siblings included Jadie, Alyssa, Romin, Jacob, Karly, Ansel, Mckenzie, and Dusty. He also claimed foster sisters Kaydence and Honesty as his own and gave them the full big-brother treatment. Preston loved deeply. His loyalty was unmatched, his heart was enormous, and he had a remarkable ability to see the good in people.

As his family changed over the years, Preston also built meaningful relationships with bonus parents Lucas and Alana. His relationship with Lucas was filled with laughter, video games, board games, working on his truck, and the kind of back-and-forth humor Preston loved.

As an adult, Preston worked in several different industries and remained very committed to two things: cars and spending money on looking good.

Like many people who experience trauma and addiction, Preston spent years searching for ways to quiet the things he carried inside him. Those difficult years were never the entirety of who he was. There were also successes, family dinners, adventures, inside jokes, moments of hope, and people who continued to love him through every version of himself.

Preston’s death is heartbreaking, but his life was much bigger than the way it ended. He was a son, a brother, a friend, an artist, an athlete, and an adventurer. He loved loudly, laughed loudly, and left pieces of himself with more people than he probably ever realized.

Preston was preceded in death by his grandfather, Samuel O. Barney; his grandmothers, Mary J. Altstadt and Tilly (Nana) Thompson; his uncle Dustin Bruce; his great-grandfathers Earl Spangler and Ferd Schell; and his great-grandmothers, Virginia Spangler and Norma Schell.

Preston is survived by his mother, Kayla (Lucas) Bruce; his father, Christopher (Alana) Spangler; his brothers, Romin, Jacob, and Ansel; his sister, Alyssa Barney and her children, Lincoln and Salem; his sister, Jadie (Justin) Nygaard and her children, Liam, Everly, Emrie, and Brennan; his sisters, Dusty, Karly, and Mckenzie; his grandfathers, Thomas Altstadt, Ken (Cori) Bruce, and Steve Spangler; his grandmothers, Carol Carsen and Donna Spangler; and his great-grandparents, John and RoseMarie Bruce.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, mental health, or thoughts of suicide, help is available. Call or text 988, dial 211 for local resources, or contact FirstLink locally at 701-293-6462.

A private celebration of Preston’s life will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, at Kayla and Lucas’ home. We will eat Preston’s favorite foods, listen to music, share stories, and spend the evening remembering him as the person we knew and loved. If you make a dish Preston loved, please feel free to bring it.

The celebration is only open for those who were a source of positivity in Preston’s life. If you are unsure, do not show up unannounced. Our family asks that this boundary be respected so those closest to Preston can mourn, remember him, and say goodbye together in peace.