George William VanSteenvoort

George William VanSteenvoort , 98, passed away on October 8, 2024 while on hospice care at Missouri Slope Care Center, Bismarck ND. George was born August 28, 1926, in McHenry, ND to Frank and Ethel (Greb) VanSteenvoort. His parents raised 6 sons and 2 daughters. His family settled on a farm near Crary, ND and he graduated from Crary High School in 1944. He worked on the farm until he joined the Navy in February 1945. He completed basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, and deployed to Okinawa, Japan until his discharge in July 1946. 

After a short courtship, including Dad buzzing her home in a borrowed airplane, George and Marie were married August 28, 1947, on his 21st birthday. They took a 3-week honeymoon in Minnesota and Wisconsin and then went to Butte, MT where a friend assured him a job at the Anaconda Copper Mine. Following a collarbone injury due to a run-away ore cart and learning his father had cancer, they returned to Devils Lake.

George held various mechanic jobs during his lifetime. He worked at a sporting goods store where he sold guns, sharpened skates and knifes and worked on boat motors and appliances. He also taught small engine repair for the Devils Lake Public School System and ended his career repairing boat motors. 

Dad loved our mom deeply and faithfully for nearly 77 years until her passing on May 19, 2024. He never left the house without kissing Mom and patting her on the behind. He was reliable, hard-working and a man of many talents. He had a special bond with several close friends and enjoyed telling a story or two. Dad planted countless trees (we teased him by calling him Johnny Appleseed). He was also known for his homemade wine, Kahlua, and jams and jellies from his hundreds of strawberry plants. 

During the last days of his life, after receiving a dose of morphine, he just had to tell a medical joke to his daughter. Dad firmly believed in a little sweet at every meal, so Marcia and Rick supplied him with homemade jams for years. His favorite pie was cherry which his granddaughter Susie made for him. Nancy provided banana bread to him and his favorite caregivers. In Dad’s final hours he thought he was flying an airplane and worrying about someone doing the farm chores. He told us weeks ago about Mom being impatient for him to join her. When Dad received his pacemaker in 2022, he told us St. Peter turned him back from the Pearly Gates of Heaven because his job here on earth wasn’t quite done. Our wish is for him to enjoy his next life flying, fishing or hunting with Mom by his side.

George’s interests were varied, including fishing and hunting. He was a member of the Devils Lake Elks, The National Rifle Association, and a life member of the VFW. He was awarded by the North Dakota Catch and Release Club for releasing a 26-1/2-inch walleye. He also was congratulated for catching a North Dakota whopper, a 3 lb. 15 oz. brown trout. He was a champion trap-shooter, earning many awards and trophies and served in various offices with that club. 

George is survived by his daughters and their spouses: Nancy (Glen) Hoffer, Marcia (Rick) Burckhard, Sandy (Dennis) Threatt and Teri (Gary) Opper. Also surviving are 9 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren: Jeff (Claire) Hoffer, their three children, Amy, Elizabeth and Katherine; Julie (Lyle) Kinnischtzke and two children, Brooke and Drew; James Hoffer and his two sons, Evan and Reed; Susie (John) McNamara and two children, Finn and Oliver; Beth Burckhard and her two children, Brendan and Haylie; Wendy (Colby) Griffin and their two children, Elise (Jarren) Thomas and Oakley; and Hollie Perez; Bradley (Stephanie) Opper and their two children, Eli and Parker; and Nicole Opper. 

George was preceded in death by his wife Marie; his parents, Frank and Ethel VanSteenvoort; all his siblings, Francis (Wallace) Crawford; Ellen (Rictor) Sather, John “Jack” VanSteenvoort; Tom (Mary Ann) VanSteenvoort; Stanley (Bernice) VanSteenvoort; Eugene VanSteenvoort; Danny (Betty) VanSteenvoort; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.