Stephen Verville

Stephen (Steve) Paul Verville, 42, Pequot Lakes, Minn., died Saturday, May 27, 2017. Steve Verville was born October 30, 1974, in Grand Forks, N.D., son of Gary and Connie (Oram) Verville. He grew up on the family farm and ranch on Six Mile Bay west of Devils Lake, N.D., and graduated from Devils Lake High School in 1993. He participated in his church youth group, Royal Rangers, 4-H and Ramsey Riders. He also played hockey and football and spent many weekends fishing, down-hill skiing and water skiing with family and friends. His exposure to welding in high school led to his life-long love for and career in welding.

Steve was united in marriage to Diana L. Papineau on May 20, 2000, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Grand Forks, N.D. Following their marriage, they moved to Colorado where they lived and worked for four years. In the spring of 2004, they moved to the Twin Cities of Minnesota where they were closer to family. Their first son, Logan Steve, was born in 2005 followed by Wyatt Lee in 2008.

In 2011, they moved to Loon Lake in Pequot Lakes and established Ironpines Welding in 2012, realizing their dream of a slower-paced life, raising their boys in a small town, living on a lake and owning their own business.

Steve had many interests and hobbies, but his family was his passion. He taught his sons to skate, play hockey, water ski, and so much more. He instilled in them the value of hard work, dedication to family, and love of God. He touched many other young people, as well, through his service as a volunteer hockey coach. His easy smile and helpful nature endeared him to many.

Steve is survived by his beloved wife, Diana, and sons, Logan (11) and Wyatt (8), of Pequot Lakes; his parents, Gary and Connie Verville, of Devils Lake, N.D.; his uncle, Gary Oram, of Devils Lake; his aunts, Nancy Holden of Solway, Minn., Tammy (John) Hornbacher of Harvey, N.D., and JoAnn (Stanley) Mikulski, Bette (Jack) Shea, and uncles, Norman (Rose) Verville, Johnny Verville, Donald (Liane) Verville, and Chuck Szulewski, all of Massachusetts; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Patricia Bohnet and Lowell Liebenow, of Pequot Lakes; his sister-in-law, Sarah Bohnet (Tim McKenna), of St. Paul, Minn.; and his brother-in-law, Matt Papineau, of Rapid City, S.D. Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Steve was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Helmer and Pearl (Tucker) Oram; his paternal grandparents Norman and Dorothy (Gamage) Verville; aunts and uncles, Archie and Judy (Oram) Harveland, Dorothy (Verville) Szulewski, Charles Verville, and Marden Holden.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 31, from 5-7 p.m. at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Pequot Lakes. Funeral services will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Cross in Nisswa on Thursday, June 1, at 11 a.m. with visitation preceding the service from 10-11 a.m. Memorials are preferred to the Northern Lakes Youth Hockey Association. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Pequot Lakes, MN.

Visitation Wednesday, May 31, 5-7 PM, at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Pequot Lakes.