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  Stephen “Steve” Plante, age 75, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2026.

   Steve was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and spent his entire childhood on Cherokee Avenue in West St. Paul. He attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Grade School and Brady High School, graduating with the Class of 1968—the first graduating class of the school. Steve was a member of the basketball team, and his track record at the school remains unbroken. He attended the University of Minnesota and served in the National Guard. Steve was employed by Shaw/Stewart Lumber Company for 35 years as an outside salesman.

   Steve bowled for 35 years on the same team at various bowling alleys, finishing at Drakula Lanes in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. In retirement, he golfed in both Longville and Walker, playing in men’s golf leagues until his health no longer allowed. He was a board member of the MN Deer Hunters Association when it was based in Longville, MN, and spent many hours working on the banquet and supporting the organization’s goals. In his final years, Steve enjoyed attending the many meat raffles in the Longville area, where you could find one every day of the week, and Steve was always the luckiest at the table.

   He had golden retrievers for over 50 years and owned eight over that time, seven of which preceded him in death. He is also survived by his golden retriever, Pearl.

   In 1979, he fell in love with Longville, MN, when he and his wife Kathy, along with their good friends Pat and Mike Boen, purchased Archer’s Resort on Lake Wabedo, which is now the public access for the lake. In 1985, he purchased property on Girl Lake and came to love Woman Lake and all it had to offer. In 1993, he bought his final lake home on Woman Lake, on Pikie Point, where he and his wife Kathy hosted guests for 12 weekends each summer for 30 years. Each guest returned for the same weekend every year. He was known for his grilling, turkey frying, kids tubing, card playing, and, of course, fishing.

   Steve hosted five-day fishing openers starting in 1979 with a group that included Chuck Warnert, John Reuter, Mike Wanke, Alex Wanke, and Myles Wanke. It was the highlight of his year. He was very successful at fishing and taught many friends and relatives the lake and its treasures. One of his proudest moments was winning the Frank Schneider Memorial Muskie Tournament in 2016, when he boated three muskies, with his muskie partner and friend Mike Boen. They had been partners in the tournament for 41 years and placed in the top five more than a dozen times. On August 24, 2020, he guided his good friend Mike Perri, who caught a small mouth bass with what they believed was close to a state record, weighing 7 pounds, 15.2 ounces, on Woman Lake.

   He enjoyed many holidays and celebrations with his mother, his two sisters and their families, as well as the Bachman family.

   He is survived by his devoted wife of 52 years, Kathy (Bachman); his mother, Marjorie Plante, age 107; and his sisters, Mary “Bunny” Rupert and Linda (Jeff) Tilden. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, David Rupert, Amanda Rupert, Caroline Thronson, Alex Wanke, Myles Wanke, and Camielle Tilden; his brother-in-law, James (Linda) Bachman; and additional nieces and nephews, Randy Bachman, Christina Quade, and Peter Bachman. Great-nieces and great-nephews, including Audrey, Clementine, Juniper, Cassie, Darby, Abby, Zach, Logan, and Parker. 

   He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Plante; his brother, David Plante; his brother-in-law, John Rupert; his nephew, Brian Rupert; and dear friends John Parker, Bob Steinhauer, and Mike Perri. 

A celebration of Steve’s life will be held at a later date.

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