Steven Horning

Steven Horning, 66, of Zap, ND, passed away April 6, 2018 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN with his loving wife and daughter at his side. He will be greatly missed by his wife of 45 years, Rachel, and their three children. Services will be held at 10:00 AM CDT on Thursday, April 12, 2018 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Beulah, ND with Pastor Tom Olson and Pastor Kent Sperry officiating. Burial will follow at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery north of Zap.

Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM CDT on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah, ND.

Steven was born on May 27, 1951 to Emil and Esther (Morast) Horning at the Hazen Hospital. He was baptized on June 4, 1951 and confirmed in faith on June 11, 1967. He was raised on a farm north of Zap and graduated from Zap High School in 1970. Steven went to college at Wahpeton, ND for Diesel Mechanic and then moved back to the area. On June 16, 1972 he married his high school sweetheart, Rachel Keller, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Dodge. Steven and Rachel were dating in 1969 at the time of the famous “Zip to Zap” days. Every weekend, teens from area towns zipped to Zap for live band dances. At one of those dances, Steven worked up enough courage to ask Rachel to dance and the rest is history.

Steven was well known for his strong work ethic and worked tirelessly to provide for his family. His agriculture career began at the Zap Farmers Elevator, but soon was able to move 5-1/2 miles NW of Zap where they started farming and milking cows. They continued to farm and ranch for many years to build up a large farmstead. In 2002, they decided to farm a little smaller and move into town because it was time to start slowing down. They only lasted in town a few years before the country life called them back out to his original homestead that belonged to his parents north of Zap in 2005. Farming and ranching kept him busy and he was always trying to help out with whatever he could. He often drove around to check the crops and making sure the cattle were taken care of. He became the supervisor of the farming and ranching business and made sure everyone was doing their jobs.

Hunting season was a three-month holiday for Steven every year where he loved to spend time with his brothers, Stanley and Don, his sons, son-in-law, and grandkids. He really enjoyed seeing the kids get their pheasants and deer each year. After the hunt Steven liked butchering, cooking, and making crazy recipes for everyone to taste. He enjoyed making Diamond Willow wood mirrors, canes, and picture frames which can be seen in various places in our community. Steven also loved vacations with his family and took them to California and the Black Hills in South Dakota many times for snow skiing, waterslides, and tourist attractions. Steve and Rachel were also able to travel to Hawaii and Arizona in the last few years and enjoyed the times together.

Steven had a huge heart for others but not a very healthy one. He wanted to keep living as long as he could and that is why he went through the large surgery to install a heart pump assist device last fall. His strength through the whole thing was like no other as he fought to get better. When he was able to come home after the LVAD device he was anxious to heal up and see his little buddies, “Lucy”, his dog, and “Little Johnny”, his goat. He enjoyed his time at home after his surgery and one more trip to Arizona before his heart gave out.

Steven was blessed with his wife, Rachel of Zap; three children and seven grandchildren, Travis (Heidi) and their children, Torie and Tia Horning of Zap, Jeremy (Heather) and their children, Trey, Ty, and Tasia Horning of Golden Valley, and Erin (Adam) and their children, Jillian and Logan McDonald of Zap; his brothers and sisters, Evangline (Dale) Murschel of Bismarck, Donald (Sharon) Horning of Zap, Diane (Ron) Staiger of Bismarck, Terrance (Mary Lou) Horning of Beulah, Stanley (Jane) Horning of Zap; and five foster daughters, Jane (Ferderer) Horning, Vida (Ferderer) Keller, Nathalja (Ferderer) Hendrickson, Michelle McHenry, and Jeanette Ahern, who all brought special joys and meanings to their lives.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Esther Horning.

Arrangements conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen.HHeath

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