STEVEN A. SPAH

Steven A. Spah, 57 of Devils Lake formerly of Leeds, ND passed away on Friday, November 6, 2015 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND. Funeral Services for Steven will be held at the First United Methodist Church, Devils Lake on Thursday, November 12, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Lori Broschat officiating. Burial will be in the Leeds Cemetery, rural Leeds, ND at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Thursday at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Steven will be his nephews Justin Schneider, Bailey Schneider, Tom Kingore, Troy Kingore, Shannon Spah and Brent Gustafson. Honorary Bearers will be his brother Gary Spah and best friend Gary Remmen. Steven Allen, son of Henry and Ruby (Zerr) Spah was born on January 11, 1958 at Minot, ND. His early years were living with his family in Surrey, ND. After the 3rd grade the family moved to Leeds, ND and Steven graduated from Leeds High School with the class of 1978. Steve was a very competitive football player and was also the captain of the football team. He worked alongside his Dad at a young age in the construction business and built many homes, businesses in the Leeds area. In May of 1980, Steven married Penny Smeltzer at Leeds Lutheran Church and they established their home in Leeds until 1983 when they moved to Devils Lake. Steve continued in construction, working with Great Plains Lumber and Gary Remmen building spec. homes. For over 35 years, Steve and Gary worked together and were partners in the construction business at the time of Steve’s death. Steve was a confirmed member of Leeds Lutheran Church. When he wasn’t working, he was an avid ice fisherman. He followed his mother’s footsteps as an excellent cook, he enjoyed gardening and the processing and canning of the produce. He enjoyed meat processing and smoking fish. He was an all around handyman and “Mr. Fix-It.” The construction business was Steve’s passion and he was so proud to have his sons Benjamin and Blake join him in the business the past 10 years. He was a great example to all of his sons. His hard work ethics, his honesty and integrity as a businessman, his always being there as a devoted, hands on father from their birth to adulthood. His sons were his pride and joy and he loved them and all of his family with all his heart. Steve is survived by his precious sons Bradley A., Benjamin J. and Blake A. Spah all of Devils Lake; grandson Hunter A. Spah; mother of his sons Penny L. Spah, Grand Forks, ND; siblings Sandra Kingore, Inner Grove Heights, MN, Diane (Raymond) Gustafson, West Fargo, ND, Gary (Ann) Spah, Ashley, ND, Debbie Blomster and Cynthia Schneider, Devils Lake and Lynette (Carl) Hanson, Cokato, MN; in-laws Vance and Alice Smeltzer, Leeds, ND; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers-in-law Jim Kingore, Dennis Blomster and Patrick Schneider and his beloved grandparents.