Stephen Sletmoe

Stephen Allen Sletmoe was born on February 27, 1973 to Norman and Carmen Sletmoe of Leonard, North Dakota. He grew up on the family farm enjoying the family pets and playing football, track, basketball, Legion baseball and excelling (too easily!) at most things. His favorite was playing football his junior and senior year as part of the Kindred co-op – as slotback or halfback on offense and an outside linebacker on defense. He graduated from Leonard’s last graduating class in 1991 as Valedictorian.

He participated in 4-H and raised several steers that he named and, of course, missed once they were gone – an early sign of his sensitive side. After graduating from Leonard High School in 1991, he attended North Dakota State University and graduated with an accounting degree and a minor in Russian. He very much enjoyed a study-abroad summer in Russia in 1993 – especially the host families. He went on to get a CPA and eventually received a Master’s in Business at the University of Minnesota in 2001. He worked in financial analysis for American Express in Minneapolis, Sony Music in New York, and CKE Industries in Los Angeles before eventually going solo and working on a contract basis. Thanks to his network of many family & friends-he-made-along-the-way he was never without a job for too long. Thank you – you know who you are.

Stephen deeply loved spending time with his family and friends, whether he was being the life of the party, watching the Minnesota Vikings, or playing with Bootser & Bailey (his favorite dogs). Over the years he and his dad traveled and watched various teams at The Staples Center, Dakotah Field, The Fargo Dome and The Target Center. He was both a deep thinker and feeler. He was often private, so below we share some of our favorite memories to help you know him better. We already miss his grin and laugh, but we look forward to being reunited – where we’ll be the best versions of ourselves:

• Bonny Lass (10 yr old dog): Uncle Steve would come to TX to visit me every year or two. I enjoyed our romps but I trained him well with my puppy eyes…he always slipped me table food.

• Bailey Mae (18 month old dog): the best uncle ever! He would play and play and play. I never slept so well in my life. Many thanks to Bonny Lass for training him so well. Uncle Steve could not resist me. He was a prolific sharer of table & restaurant food.

• James (15 yr old nephew): my favorite memory of my Uncle Steve is playing football with him in the backyard and all his encouraging words to me as we played. A few days before he died, we walked into the kitchen from the backyard and he looked at me and said, “I love you, man.”

• MC (15 yr old niece): he appreciated all my baking and cooking…and said that our family was blessed to have such a good baker. His favorite was apple pie (& the leftover pie dough) and homemade pizza – just like Grandma used to make.

• Connor (18 yr old nephew): Uncle Steve liked to ride motorcycles and snowmobiles with us; and like me, he liked to go fast. I appreciated having a partner in crime. I trust he’ll be watching the Vikings with us with front row seats.

• Olivia (18 yr old niece): like my uncle, I’m also a deep thinker and feeler – it’s just that our anchors were different. I’m glad he was open to reading scripture with me and praying together. It heartens me to know our anchors are the same now.

• Chris (brother-in-law): I miss his mischievousness. He loved to banter, and it was fun to watch him spar (especially with his parents). I’ll miss our deep conversations – above all he was seeking for truth. I’m crushed that he’s gone, but I’m comforted that he’s finally free.

• Cathy (sister): As teenagers, after 15 years of antagonism, I remember the day he looked at me in the kitchen, and said, “I love you.” I almost snorted in skepticism, but then I saw that he was serious. That softened my heart. His last text to me on March 1, 2023, was “I love you, Cath. I’ll see you when you get home.”

Stephen was preceded in death by his mom, Carmen in 2020. He is survived by his dad Norman, sister Cathy, brother-in-law Chris, and nieces Mary Cathryn & Olivia and nephews James & Connor. Peace is finally his; thanks be to God. If you’d like to honor his memory, please consider his favorite charity: Mercy Ships or your local animal shelter like this one: Austin Pets Alive.