Reuben Steffan

Reuben Steffan, 84, Minot, passed away Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, in a Minot nursing home.

Reuben Steffan, son of Jacob and Marie (Sauter) Steffan, was born on Jan. 1, 1925, on a farm seven miles southwest of Sawyer. He attended Newman Township School No. 1 through the sixth grade, until 1937, when the family moved to Sawyer. He then completed his seventh- and eighth-grade years in Sawyer and graduated from Sawyer High School in 1943.

He joined the Army Air Corps Pilot Cadet Training program in July 1943 and received all his training in the South-East Training Command. He was stationed in various cities and towns, which included Miami Beach, Fla.; Montgomery, Ala.; Spartanberg, S.C.; Clarksville, Greenville and Columbus, Miss.; and Laurenberg, N.C.

Reuben received his twin-engine pilot wings with the rank of flight officer in March 1945 at the age of 20. After the war in Europe ended, they did not need as many pilots. Because of this they sent his entire flight to Glider Pilot School in Laurenberg-Maxton Air Force Base in North Carolina. He received his glider pilot wings a few days before the war in Japan ended and he received his honorable discharge from the Army Air Corps in October 1945.

He attended the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, from February 1946 to June 1949 at which time he received a bachelor of science degree in commerce. While at the University of North Dakota, he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity and was on the university's boxing team in 1947.

Reuben worked in the offices of Fisher Motor Co. and also at Great Northern Railroad for several years before transferring to the Transportation Department. He also worked as a fireman-engineer until 1964 at which time he entered the real estate business and spent much of his time managing and maintaining his own properties. Reuben was proud of the fact that he sold the first condo ever built in Minot.

Reuben was a member of the Eagles Aerie and the American Legion Post No. 26, both Minot, and the Sigma Chi fraternity. He was very active and spent many hours securing flood protection to lessen water damage in the residential area of northwest Minot and the Perkett School area. He initiated the idea of the U.S. Highway 83 W. Bypass, and the Bypass was completed shortly thereafter.

Surviving relatives include: sisters, Martha Faul of Harvey, Ruth Zimbelman, Minot, Sarah Shippy, Sun City, Ariz., and Laura Forthun, Minot; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Reuben was preceded in death by his parents; longtime companion, Estelle G. Eckert; brothers, Ben, Jake, Fred and Bill Steffan; and sister, Kathryn Schmidt.

Funeral: Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009, at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Minot.

Visitation: Today, Sept. 2, from 2 to 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Family Service: Today at 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home Chapel, Minot.

Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Our Redeemer's Lutheran Grade School, the St. Leo's Catholic Grade School, Trinity Hospice, all Minot, or to an organization of the donor's choice.

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).