Stephen “Butch” George Lickteig, 76, currently of Edina, Minnesota, passed away March 22, 2016, suddenly of a heart attack.

Steve was born and raised in Austin, Minnesota, where he lived on his family farm. The farm was the epicenter of family and friends and he grew-up surrounded by many cousins. Steve graduated from Pacelli High School where he played football, basketball, baseball and ran track. He was part of the Boys State High School Basketball Champion Team (1958), and later inducted into the Pacelli Hall of Fame. Steve attended the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, where he played quarterback for the Blue Golds. He received a law degree from the University of Minnesota in 1964. He joined the private practice of Russell & Willenbring, in Cold Spring, Minnesota, where he became a partner in 1965. Steve found a passion for law within fire litigation and later moved to Minneapolis to work with Fetterly & Gordon P.A.

Over the years Steve lived in Cold Spring, St. Cloud, St. Paul and Faribault, Minnesota, but had a special fondness for Green Valley, Arizona and Austin, Minnesota. It was a great joy to go back to the family farm and help during harvest. Steve had a life-long love of golf and suffered his heart attack while playing Quail Creek in Green Valley. He loved spending time in Arizona entertaining family and friends. Steve was a voracious reader, loved travel, good food and drink, and he knew how to tell a story. His sense of humor and dry wit were one of the many reasons people loved him so much. He

collected antiques and had a keen eye for Nike athletic shoes. Steve loved to follow politics and closely monitored the stock market. He will be greatly missed.

Steve is survived by his love, Joan Hasper; his daughters, Lori Lickteig, Debbie Lickteig, Jenny (Greg) Schneider, and Sarah (Justin) Hayes; his step-sons, Mike (Rhyannon) Novak, and Bryan (Laura) Novak; sisters, Susan (Steve) Haeny, and Sandra (Daniel) Hendrikson; sister-in-law Linda Lickteig; 21 grandchildren; nieces, nephews; cousins; and friends.

Steve was preceded in death by his wife, Gwen; brother Richard Lickteig; and parents Esther and Stephen Lickteig.

Memorial service will take place Friday, April 29, at 3 p.m., at Colonial Church of Edina. Private interment will be held in Austin, Minnesota. Memorials are preferred to the American Heart Association or the Mayo Clinic Foundation.