Obituary: Steven John Espeseth, 70

Steven John Espeseth, 70, passed away October 22, 2022 of natural causes in Fosston, Minnesota.

Steve was born August 4, 1952 in Petersburg, Alaska to Arne and Louise Espeseth. He graduated in 1970 from Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls, Minnesota.

With the money he saved being a commercial fisherman, he went to pilot school in Colorado. Soon after he achieved his pilot's license, he bought a Cessna 150 plane and went to Florida where he took up scuba diving. He returned to Alaska to commercial fish on the F/V Lindy alongside his dad Arne, brother Keith, Paul, and Dan. Later Steven, Keith, and Arne fished the F/V Silver Cloud.

Steve loved the outdoors, and of course, flying his plane, he also enjoyed spending hours on his ham radio. His passion was being out in nature, either hunting, fishing, or collecting rocks and fossils.

A dear brother to his younger sister Gayle, he tried so hard to teach her to drive his Capri, but gave up due to her spinning the tires each time she popped the clutch to shift gears. He also tried hard to teach her to drive his skiff, needless-to-say, she had them spinning around in circles on the river.

When he became ill, Steve moved back to Minnesota to be with his mother and brother. Later, he moved to McIntosh, Minnesota, where he met a beautiful and loving lady, Cindy. She was not only his caregiver, but a friend who became part of his family along with all his fellow housemates at Riverside Board and Lodge. Steve was blessed with such good friends. He loved to tell stories of his younger years and of his dream to one day fly again.

He was preceded by his parents Arne and Louise Espeseth and brother Keith Espeseth.

Steven's love and love for the outdoors will continue to be spread by his sister Gayle Espeseth of Petersburg, Alaska; niece Heather Berkley and nephew Matthew Espeseth, both of Oregon; nephews Josef Espeseth of Juneau, Alaska, Kristoffer Espeseth and Nicholas (Rhea Duke) Espeseth, of Petersburg, Alaska; and two great nephews, Kaden Duke and Leland Espeseth.