Stephen Gestson

Stephen K Gestson completed his baptismal journey to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, February 14th, 2025, surrounded by his family. At age 99 he had lived a full and wonderful life as a man of integrity, kindness, strength, and a deep faith.
Steve was born Oct. 15, 1925, to Sigurjon (John) and Thordis Gestson and grew up in Edinburg ND with his brother and sister. He attended Walsh County Elementary school and then Edinburg High School, graduating June of 1943. He enlisted in the Navy and served on the USS Makassar Strait CVE -91 as an Aerographer's mate second class from Jan. 1944 to April 1946. He worked odd jobs in the construction industry which led him to study and earn his Associates Degree in Drafting and Estimating at North Dakota State School of Science in 1960. After that he moved to Fargo, ND, and was employed at Peavy Lumber company where he was introduced to his next employers at Structural Products, where he stayed for over 25 years.
Steve met Lucille Anderson through mutual friends. and they married on May 14, 1960. They celebrated 59 years of marriage until 2019 when Lucille passed. They raised their two daughters, Renee and LaVonne, in Fargo, providing them with many adventurous family trips across the country and Canada. They instilled in them the importance of family, hard work, and enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
In 1982, Steve, Lucille and LaVonne moved to Arlington, TX, to pursue a job opportunity for Steve. However, a better opportunity arose and they moved to the Denver area in 1983, bringing them full circle to the location of their honeymoon. Steve worked at Denver Hardware as an Architectural Hardware Consultant until his multiple retirements. He and Lucille lived in Westminster and Federal Heights, where Steve could enjoy his love of living in Colorado and his time out on the Hyland Hills Golf Course. Renee and her husband, Tom, remained in Fargo until 1995 when they moved to Colorado to join the rest of the family.
At 72, Steve took up oil painting and tapped into a previously unknown talent. He often said God directed each brush stroke and titled his works as "Paintings with a Soul by an Icelandic Artist." He donated much of his over 100 works of art to the Mountain Community Center. In 2015, Steve and Lucille moved the Retreat at Church Ranch Assisted Living facility where he embraced the staff and activities there and made it his "home". He continued to paint in watercolors as a part of the Memories in the Making program, which benefits the Alzheimer's Association.
Some of Steve's most treasured memories were his two trips to Iceland, playing bingo, family trips, reading, golf, bowling and spending time with his friends.
He is preceded in death by his wife Lucille, his parents, his brother Magnus Geston, and sister Katherine Rasmussen. He is survived by daughter Renee Gestson Haskins, her husband Thomas Haskins, daughter LaVonne Gestson Vespoli, her husband Joseph Vespoli, dear family friend Nancy Linder, his nieces and nephews, and many fur grandchildren.
The celebration of his life and final goodbyes will be at Advent Lutheran Church on Thursday, February, 20th at 1:00 PM, 7979 Meade St Westminster, CO 80030. In lieu of flowers please send memorials to Advent Lutheran Church https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/249912, Alzheimer's Association or charity of your choice.