Steven Ray Huss

STEVEN RAY HUSS

January 8, 1966 – June 25, 2020

            Steven Ray Huss, age 54 of Park Rapids, MN, passed from this life on Thursday, June 25, 2020 in the comfort of his home surrounded by his loved ones.         

            Steven was born on January 8, 1966 to George Martin and Shirley Anne (Hornbacher) Huss in Jamestown, ND.  His early boyhood years were spent in Jamestown until as a young teenager he moved with his family to Fargo, ND.  He graduated from Fargo North High School where he was a member of the hockey team with the Class of 1984.  He graduated from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks in 1988 where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.  On August 4th, 1989 Steven was united in marriage to Laura Poling in Bismarck, ND.  Their union was blessed with three children:  George, Axel, and Batiste.  In 1996, he transferred from the United States Army into the United States Air Force. He served as an HH60 Pilot earning the rank of Full Colonel over the course of his career.  He earned his Masters of Science Degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2002.  He served throughout the world at Fort Sam Houston in TX, Fort Irwin in California, Landstuhl, Germany, Holloman AFB in New Mexico, Kadena AB in Japan, Osan AB in Korea, Hickam AFB in HI, Naval Air Station, Keflavik, Iceland, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, Joint Air Command in Suffolk, VA, Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, Hawaii. He retired in 2015 after 27 years of combined active duty service with the United States Air Force and the United States Army and he and his wife made their home on Portage Lake north of Park Rapids MN.  He volunteered as a Helicopter Crew Member for the Minnesota DNR fighting wildfires in MN, he also volunteered as the Zamboni operator and in other capacities at the Park Rapids Ice Arena.  He loved playing tennis and hockey, cross country skiing, spearfishing, and surfing in Hawaii. He also enjoyed the rigors of cutting and splitting his own firewood each year.

            Steven will be remembered by his wife Laura: his three children George Huss, serving his country in the United States Coast Guard, Axel Huss and his wife Rein both currently serving in the United States Air Force and his daughter Batiste of Park Rapids; his mother Shirley Huss of Park Rapids; two brothers, Mike of Rapid City, SD, Mark and son Otto of Fargo, ND and his beloved Bull Terriers; Pingy and Chin Ho.

            He was preceded in death by his father George who died when Steven was just 10 years old.

Private family services are being held with full military honors provided by Star of the North Marine Corps League under the command of Mr. David Free at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home.  Interment will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND.