James "Jim" R. Steinhaus

James R. “Jim” Steinhaus, of Grand Forks formerly of Crary ND passed away on Monday, January 10, 2022 at the age of 63.

Visitation will be at Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday, January 13, 2022 from 3:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. and will continue on Friday from 11:00 a.m. until time of service. Funeral Services will be on Friday, January 14^th at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home with burial in the Devils Lake Cemetery.

James Ray, son of Lester F. and Thelma M. (Alstad) Steinhaus was born on May 10, 1958 in Devils Lake ND.  He grew up in Crary and attended Crary Public School.  As a teenager, he began working with his oldest brother in the heating and cooling industry. (HVAC). He had the talents and skills to make this his career for many years.  He lived and worked in several states but always considered Crary home.  He most recently worked for Custom Aire in Grand Forks until health issues forced him to retire. 

Jim was united in marriage to Mary Lou Tollefson on December 27, 2000 in Devils Lake.  They established their home in Crary for many years, moving to Grand Forks in 2017.

Jim’s true passion was the land.  He loved the farm and looked forward to many trips south with the Bryl Custom Harvesting crew, helping on the Rohr and Anderson family farms and keeping a well-manicured, meticulous lawn wherever he lived.  Fortunately for any farmer and himself he was a whiz at restoring tractors and lawn mowers.  His talents didn’t end there, he was a wood worker and designed many beautiful, unusual creations which he lovingly shared with family and friends.

If Jim was in the shop, in the car, in the house or in the yard you would hear good old-time music playing and he would be singing and if it was polka music he was dancing.  He had a great sense of humor, treasured his friends and loved his family with his whole heart.

Jim’s family include his beloved wife Mary Lou; children Nikki Steinhaus, Devils Lae and Kristen (Mykl) Smeraldo of Jordan MN; step children Dana Banken, Morris MN and Shane Steinhaus, Fargo ND; grandchildren Ashley, Alex, Cassandra, Keneisha: Preston, Masyn, Zoey: Taylor, Jakob, Walker, Blake; Passion, Morgan, Dylan; great grandchildren Kolyn, Kaydynce, Aubree and Aleah; brother Gene Steinhaus, Grand Forks; sisters Karin (Dennis) Triebel, Edna, Kansas and Phyllis Austin, West Fargo ND; many nieces, nephews and their families. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, sons Jimmy and James, brothers Orrin and Vernin Steinhaus, sisters Caroline Steinhaus and Doris Himmerick. 

“Nice you could see me! You owed it to yourself.”