Steven Vern Liimatta

Steven Vern Liimatta of Menahga passed away July 26 2024 at St Catherines, Fargo ND. Steven was born to Clinton and Ethel Liimatta (Olson) 11 Jan 1949 at the Park Rapids Hospital. 

Steve attended the 1 room schoolhouse in Spruce Grove Township and then attended school in Menahga where he graduated in 1966, except for his 6th grade when he attended school in Hawkinson, WA. He had a passion for sports but due to family responsibilities on the farm he was not able to fully pursue sports. At a young age with the help of his little brother Roger, Steve helped run the family farm while Clinton was working on the Iron Range. Roger has fond memories of that to this day. 

In High School he socialized with many friends, with his best friend being Freeman Wuollet. He also discovered he liked fast cars, later owning a Ford Mustang and Plymouth Roadrunner. Later in life Steve enjoyed having regular breakfast get-togethers with classmates at the Cottage House. After graduation he moved to Minneapolis and roomed with friends while working sewer and water construction. Freeman joined the Marines while they were still in high school, and Steve enlisted in the Navy (Seabees) in 1969. He then attended basic training in San Diego and trained near Biloxi MS. He became a petroleum specialist. He had many stories about the adventures he and Freeman had when they were on military leave prior to deploying to Vietnam. He spent much of his tour near Marble Mountain. However, Vietnam would have lifelong consequences emotionally and physically as Steve was exposed to Agent Orange. To make matters worse, Steve developed a terrible infection in Vietnam that almost killed him, resulting in a 5 month stay in Japan and the Great Lakes Naval Hospital. Due to his strong will (and the Grace of God) Steve survived and returned home with an Honorable discharge in 1970. Despite his reception upon returning home, he was a true patriot and loved the United States of America. Steve was active in the Menahga VFW Post 6206 for years and served several terms as Commander as well as Commander of the Wolf Lake VFW. 

Steve met Marie Niska in 1971 when she moved to Menahga with her young son. They were united in marriage on the 24th of June, 1972 at First English Lutheran Church in Menahga. They resided at the farm Steve had purchased from his parents in 1970. Over the years Marie and Steve rescued or adopted a variety of animals, sometimes needing the help of Steve’s loving female Irish setter Rusty to nurse babies. Highlights were baby racoons from Roger’s logging of a tree and a baby deer following deer season. Despite being an avid Deer hunter, he really loved animals of all sorts, except maybe dairy cows. 

Steve was always in motion and being a creative/idea man he always had multiple projects underway. He worked a variety of jobs from farmer, logger, sandblaster, to bartender and with a head for numbers was very good at highway construction. But he was an entrepreneur at heart with a passion for cooking. 

He used his GI Bill to attend culinary school and then in 1990 he opened his restaurant The Oasis at the Truck Stop West of Park Rapids. He brought new foods ideas to the area such as turducken, salmon on a slab and amazing vegetable and wild rice dishes. The people he employed still love Steve and have great stories about working for him. 

In addition, he did the Steak Cook Out at the Menahga VFW for a long time. If you ever had his smoked ribs or apple strudel you would not forget it. He really loved cooking for his family and friends until not long ago when he did not have the strength. When he could no longer cook or bake, he loved hosting family events at his home in town. 

Following his stroke, he had more time to enjoy family, he loved seeing his grandchildren and loved having nieces and nephews visit and he loved visiting with his aunts, uncles, and cousins. He always enjoyed visiting with his sisters and brother and especially liked visiting with Aunt Arlene and Uncle Russ. 

Steve lost the love of his life, Marie, who preceded him in death on 22 February 2014 and he was also preceded by his parents Clinton and Ethel Liimatta. 

He treasured his family and will be dearly missed by his son, Brice and Marie Niska of Rio Rancho NM and his grandchildren Aaron and Alexis Niska, also his sister Joanie (Russ) Nason of Park Rapids, brother Roger (Peggy) Liimatta of Williston ND, sister Jeanne (Jody)Bjornson of Menahga; nieces Dustyne, Kelsey and Megan: nephews Alex, Cole, Cody, Brandon, Jacob, and Clint. And special aunts Arlene and Bonnie and cousins Lori and Linda. Also mourning will be a great number of friends, cousins, and the classmates he met with monthly.