Chad VanWinkle

Minot

Chad D. VanWinkle, 45, Minot died unexpectedly on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at his lake cabin at Brendles Bay, ND of natural causes.

Chad David VanWinkle was born on May 9, 1980, the son of David and Sonja (Struksnes) VanWinkle in Minot ND. He was raised and educated in Minot, where he attended Minot Public Schools.

On June 26, 2004 Chad was united in marriage to Trista Leslie at First Lutheran Church in Minot. They made their home in Minot where together they raised their three children Shaylee, Makayla and Jayce.

Chad’s greatest source of pride and joy was his role as a dad and papa. This was evident by his regular attendance at Shaylee’s volleyball games, Makayla’s cheerleading events, and Jayce’s football games.

He worked for the Stereo Shop for 9 years before joining Key Energy Services in 2012. He was the District Manager for Key Energy at the time of his death. Chad’s work family was very important to him. They were not only office support staff, co-workers, supervisors, and crew but also friends.

Chad was an avid fisherman, who recently took his granddaughter Brinlee on her first fishing trip. He enjoyed watching hockey, especially the Vegas Golden Knights, attending UND Fighting Hawks games with his family and cheering on his wife’s favorite Canadian hockey team, the Edmonton Oilers.

Chad was an exceptional cook and loved experimenting with different spices and recipes until it turned out, in his words “phenomenal.”

Since his first vehicle, he always had a vanity license plate “RIP VW”. Chad was a loving son, husband, dad, papa, and friend who will be missed by all that were honored to know him.

Chad is survived by: Wife of 20 years, Trista; three children Shaylee, Makayla, and Jayce; granddaughter Brinlee; mother Sonja (Kevin) Struksnes Weber; father David (Tammy) VanWinkle; sister Miranda VanWinkle; step-sisters Danielle (Andy) Keeley and their children; Jenny (Levi Heil) Sanderson and their children; Alyssa (Nick) Zaun and their children; step-brothers Kalen Weber; Kasey Weber; Stephen (Lili) Moore; father-in-law Bryon Leslie; sisters-in-law Jillian Leslie and her son Aidan; Meaghan (Peter Major) Leslie and their children Jacob, Lola, and Charlotte; his beloved huskies Bella, Maren and Dolly; several aunts, uncles and cousins also survive.

Chad was preceded in death by: his paternal grandparents Roger and June VanWinkle, uncle Christ Struksnes, stepbrother Joseph Sanderson, and mother-in-law Judith Leslie.

Family requests hockey or fishing apparel be worn in honor of Chad.

Visitation: Sunday, June 8, 2025 from 3 until 5 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot

Funeral Service: Monday, June 9, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church, Minot. The service will be livestreamed and may be accessed by going to the link on Chad’s web page at www.thompsonlarson.com

Burial: a private family committal service will take place at First Lutheran Cemetery, Minot.

Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Published by The Minot Daily News, June 6, 2025.