Daniel Steven Hedstrom

Daniel Steven Hedstrom (1990–2026)

Daniel’s service will be livestreamed and viewable below at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, September 10, 2026:

Daniel was a gentle giant with a heart to match. He had a gift for making others feel seen and accepted, and he approached every conversation—especially those about politics—with thoughtfulness, respect, and a confidence that could shift perspectives without ever raising a voice. A proud conservative, he was once invited to join a panel of conservatives and liberals after someone witnessed his skill at debate. His creativity and sharp wit were unmatched, and his warmth made him impossible to forget. To his mother, he was her “Eldest Man-Cub”; to his grandmother, “Honey Bear”—and to everyone else, simply unforgettable.

Daniel was born in Bismarck, North Dakota, on January 18, 1990, to Christy Stenseth and Bradley Hedstrom. He often credited his father with giving him his laid-back nature, and he cherished the way his mother valued his imagination and the depth of his humor. With an English teacher for a mom and a house full of books, Daniel developed a love of reading early on. He was rarely without a paperback—often stuffing a 600-page novel into the cargo pockets he insisted on wearing, just in case he found time to read.

The arrival of his twin sisters, Carleigh and Chelsea, brought out the proud big brother in Daniel. He was a steady helper to his mother when the girls came home, well aware that twins were a handful. A few years later, when the family was expecting again, Daniel wished for a baby brother for his birthday. His mother delivered, and Joshua became his fellow ally in the lively adventure of growing up with twin sisters.

Daniel shared something special with everyone who knew him. He shared a loyalty to the Minnesota Vikings with his dad, treasured café outings with Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa Bruce, visits to the farm with Grampa Elden, and all kinds of critters at Gramma Wilma’s house. He even struck a standing bargain with his aunt Carrie: one enthusiastic hug on his birthday, friendly handshakes the rest of the year—though he occasionally relented and granted a second hug.

Nearly every weekend, Daniel made it a priority to gather around the dinner table with his mom and sisters. These meals were about so much more than food—they were cherished moments filled with laughter, conversation, familiar stories, and the simple comfort of being together. Time spent with his family was deeply meaningful to Daniel, and those weekends became treasured traditions that created memories his mom and sisters will carry with them forever.

For more than 19 years, Daniel worked at Family Fare grocery store, where he spent his final years as Receiving Manager—the only department he never trained in was the deli. He thrived on banter, whether with coworkers, delivery drivers, or strangers in line. Walk away from a conversation with Daniel, and you’d likely find yourself thinking, That guy knows his stuff. Even if he didn’t change your mind, he always gave you something to ponder.

Outside of work, Daniel found joy in role-playing games with his close-knit group—Nick, Aaron, Rambow, Josh, and CJ—where his strategic mind shone. That same love of strategy carried into his passion for history, especially the Civil War, and into the way he navigated the world. And though he was an avid reader who noticed details others missed, he once told his first-grade teacher, with characteristic honesty, “Everything I learned, I’ve learned on TV.”

Daniel will be remembered for his extraordinary kindness, his fierce intelligence, his boundless creativity, and above all, his enormous heart. We will always imagine hearing his voice, his laugh, his unmistakable presence.

We couldn’t have asked for a better big brother, firstborn son, grandson, nephew, friend, and coworker. We will miss him every day. His memory will live on in the hearts of all who loved him.

Daniel is survived by his mother, Christy Stenseth-Hedstrom; his father, Bradley (Lisa) Hedstrom; his siblings, Chelsea, Carleigh and Joshua (Brittney); his grandparents, Elden and Wilma Stenseth and Bonnie Hedstrom; his nephew, Kolton; his aunt and uncles, Carrie (Al), Jamie (Rena), Scott (Carolyn) and Bernell (Caryn); cousins, Morgan, Caroline (Sam) and Alex (Caitlin); his fur-brother, Theo; his gaming brothers, Nick Folkedahl, Chris Rambow, CJ Hoffart, Josh Oltman, and Aaron Fry; and many friends.

Daniel was preceded in death by his grandfather, Bruce Hedstrom and great-grandparents, Gram and Gramp (Brownlee) and Grandma and Grandpa Schell.

A Celebration of Daniel’s Life will be held September 10th at 4pm, with visitation at 3pm in Boulger Funeral Home, 123 10th St. S., Fargo.

Daniel’s family plans to purchase a custom bench honoring him at the Garden of Healing in Fargo near the Scheel’s Area (gardenofhealingpark.org). Donations would be greatly appreciated and can be sent to Daniel Hedstrom Memorial Fund c/o Carrie Stenseth, 316 13th Ave E, West Fargo, ND 58078.

Please consider joining the F/M Area Out of Darkness Community Walk on September 20th, 2026 at Scheels Arena (5225 31st Ave. S, Fargo, ND) starting at 12 pm.