Stephen Allan Stenehjem

Steve Stenehjem, 79, of Fargo, North Dakota passed away peacefully after a sudden but brief illness on Saturday, April 26, 2025. A much-loved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle, Steve was born February 22, 1946 in Bottineau, North Dakota to a large and loving, coffee-drinking, Norwegian family. He grew up in Mohall, ND and graduated from high school in Williston, ND.

After a few false starts, Steve graduated in 1973 from North Dakota State University with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, and in 1975 received the first Master’s degree in Computer Science awarded in the state of North Dakota.

Steve married the love of his life Kim Froelich Stenehjem in 1974 after a whirlwind romance which surprised everyone except Steve, who explained the brevity of their courtship as “I just knew”. He must have been right because they celebrated their 50th anniversary in August 2024. Steve and Kim raised their children Aaron Stenehjem and Kari Stenehjem Furness in Eagan, MN, Tampa, FL and Bismarck, ND before setting roots in Fargo ND in 1992. In time, the family was joined by son-in-law Ian Furness, and grandchildren Stephen and Adele.

Steve’s varied career as a computer scientist included working on the team which developed the first computerized Low Altitude Warning System for air traffic controllers, and as a developer and project manager of the Regional Environmental Assessment Program for the state of North Dakota which created the first computerized hyper-accurate map of the North Dakota landscape, natural resources, locations of endangered species and ecosystems, and sites of archeological and cultural significance.

But Steve’s first love had always been teaching. He became a computer science professor at the University of Mary at both the Bismarck and Fargo campuses, and worked for many years for the NDSU Extension Service providing computer training and support to faculty, researchers, extension agents, and farmers and ranchers throughout the state. Also, thanks to his knowledge of mathematics and skill at teaching, many of his family credit his dining room tutoring sessions for singlehandedly allowing them to pass algebra and calculus with flying colors.

Seven years ago, an Ancestry DNA search led to the discovery of a son he never knew he had. Steve and Kim were thrilled to expand their loving family to include son Steve Drees, granddaughters Savannah Drees and Tanisha Krznarich, grandson-in-law Steve Krznarich and great-grandson Michael.

Steve was an avid Bison fan and a regular attendee at NDSU football, basketball, and women’s volleyball games. Even when not attending a game, Steve could be spotted wearing the green and gold as often as Kim would allow. Steve was an enthusiastic traveler and had a knack for spotting fellow Bison wherever he went.

Steve was known for his infectious laugh, wicked sense of humor, world class collection of dad jokes and Ole and Lena stories, enveloping hugs, and for welcoming anyone to his home with the question “so, how were the roads?”

Steve will be missed by his far-flung and numerous family, and by everyone whose lives he touched inside a classroom, in front of a computer, in the NDSU bleachers, or in coffee shops everywhere he went.

A Celebration of Life service will be held this summer. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Prairie Public’s Local Productions at www.prairiepublic.org or Child’s Play Charity at https://childsplaycharity.org/

Steve is survived by his wife Kim, daughter and son-in-law Kari and Ian Furness, sons Aaron Stenehjem and Steve Drees, grandchildren Adele and Stephen Furness, Savanah Drees, Tanisha (Steve) Krznarich and great-grandchild Michael, Steve’s siblings Allan (Dominick) Stenehjem and Peggy (Corky) Stenehjem Titus and in-laws Beth Stenehjem, Kathy Stenehjem, Pat Brown and JaVayne Stenehjem, plus many beloved nephews, nieces, and cousins.