Steven Thomas Ekholm passed away on July 8, 2017, at the age of 55 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. A graveside memorial service will be on Sunday, July 16 at 2 pm at Riverview Memorial Gardens in Lancaster, MN with a gathering for family and friends afterwards at the Olsonoski residence at 201 Alaska Street West in Lancaster, MN.

Steve was born in Lanesboro, MN on July 27, 1961. At the age of one, the family moved to Donaldson, MN. While growing up in Donaldson, he attended school in Stephen, MN and Kennedy, MN. He enjoyed many activities including football, fishing, hunting, skiing, demolition derbies, listening to music and loved working on his Gran Torino. After graduating high school in 1980, he attended Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls, MN where he studied auto mechanics and played football.

In 1986, Steve married Marcia Slominski where they gave birth to two daughters, Bobbie and Brittney. During their years of marriage, Steve worked for Hill's Plumbing and Heating in Bemidji, MN. After getting divorced, Steve and his daughters moved to Donaldson, MN where he started up his own plumbing and heating business, owned a café in Karlstad, MN and took over Nordic Korner in Donaldson, MN after his parent's passing. In 2001, Steve and his daughters moved to Grafton, ND where he worked for Kutz and O'Brien until retiring a few years later due to health issues. In 2010, Steve moved to Minot, ND to be closer to his granddaughter, Athena. During the last 7 years, Steve dedicated his life to his granddaughter, spending all his free time loving and spoiling her. Steve's focus in life was his family. He took every initiative to find a way to keep in touch with everyone, far and wide. He was an amazing cook and a great person to know and love. He will truly be missed.

Steve is preceded in death by his parents Anna Louise Davis, Lawrence Edward Ekholm and Arlo Rhodes Davis; and brother Thomas Ekholm. He will forever be remembered by his daughters Bobbie (Michael) Buseth of Minot, ND; Brittney Ekholm of Grand Forks, ND; granddaughter Athena Buseth of Minot, ND; siblings Debbie (Chuck) Olsonoski of Lancaster, MN; Judy Curry of Fargo, ND; Sue Curry of Wannaska, MN; James Ekholm of Alvarado, MN; Sandra (Tom) Heffernan of Jamestown, ND; along with numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.