Steven Haug

Steven Jay Haug, 64, of Willow Lake, SD, passed away Sunday, December 31, 2023, at Monument Health in Rapid City, SD, do to end stage renal failure.

Steve was born June 26th, 1959, the son of John & Jessie (Seeley) Haug, at DeSmet, SD. He was raised on the family’s dairy farm Southwest of Willow Lake. In 1973, the family moved to Willow Lake. Steve graduated from Willow Lake High School in May of 1977, and continued his education at SDSU in Brookings. Returning to Willow Lake, Steve managed the H.W. Ross Lumber Company and later was employed at Willow Lake Implement. Steve then graduated in 1986, from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD with a double major in Sociology and Political Science. Steve became employed with the SD Department of Social Services as a case worker, spending time in Sioux Falls, Mitchell and Huron, SD. He farmed for a few years and until ill health forced his retirement, he was employed in an agronomy business Carpenter, SD.

Steve was diagnosed with non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver in 2013. In November of 2015, after a very long wait, he received a liver transplant, however, the length of the surgery and with other complications, his kidney function failed to return. He has been on dialysis since that time. He was placed on the kidney transplant list numerous times only to be disappointed when developing COPD and the narrowing of a heart valve. The past few years, Steve’s health continued to rapidly decline and became difficult for him to get to and from Watertown for his three day a week dialysis treatment. In February of 2021, Steve moved to Rapid City, to live with his sister Janice and Roger Voight and recently became a resident of Vantara Mountain View Home in Rapid City.

Steve was a connoisseur of good food, always up for a good roast “beast” with all the trimmings Steve in his own right was truly chef and enjoyed cooking, baking and grilling. He had a complete carpentry shop in the garage and enjoyed remodeling his home and making flower boxes. Computers, cameras and gardening were a large part of his life also.

He loved being a part of the operations of the cattle people in the Carpenter area. He spoke of often about the gathering of the Grann livestock with four wheelers in the fall also assisting Scott Wicks in what every capacity he could, with the annual bull and cow sale. Steve looked forward to it every year. He also loved being the adopted son of Scott (Kathryn) and Terry (Violet) Wicks families and Terry (Dorothy) Evenson’s because that meant great home cooking!

Steve treasured the friendship of Al Hamre and relied on Al for anything he needed. They also drove the country attending many SDSU basketball games.

Steve enjoyed being a part of longtime South Dakota Congressman and Senator, James Abdnor’s, re-election campaigns and of course, trying to convert as many folks as possible that Republican was the way to go. Steve was baptized and a confirmed member of Grace Lutheran Church in Willow Lake and had served on the church council. He also served on the Willow Lake School Board, a was a substitute teacher and also served a term as president of the Willow Lake High School Alumni Association. In high school, Steve, lettered playing football and was the treasurer of the Future Farmers of America Organization.

Through all this time, Steve cared for his parents, John & Jessie, until their deaths.

Grateful for having been apart of his life: a brother, David (Tammy) of West Fargo, ND; a sister, Janice (Roger) Voigt of Rapid City; nieces and nephews, Ryan (Heather) Voigt, Leah (Ryan) Davis & Kendra (Danny) Loftus all of Gillette, WY, and Bethanie Haug of West Fargo, ND; grand-nieces and nephews: Sean (Maddy Eisemann) Mitchell, Lexie (Ryan Knievel) Johnson, Makynzie (Hunter Colgrove) Loftus, Logan & Cason Loftus, Ryder, Rhys, Stella Voigt, Cadie and Paislie Davis.

Funeral Service will be 1p.m Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Grace Lutheran Church in Willow Lake, South Dakota. Visitation will be from 11a.m until 1p.m. prior to the funeral.

Interment will be in the Collins Cemetery, in Willow Lake at a later date.