Leo Steve Schaan

Leo Schaan, 92, Bismarck, died April 25, 2013, at Sanford Health St. Vincent's Continuing Care Center, Bismarck. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday, April 27, at The Church of St. Anne, Bismarck, with Rev. Ed Wehner officiating. Burial will be held at 10:00 am Monday, April 29, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Friday, at St. Vincent's Care Center and from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Friday at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a rosary will begin at 5:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Leo Steve Schaan was born July 23, 1920, to Valentine and Rosa Schiele Schaan on the family farm near Balta, ND. He grew up and was educated in Balta. He joined the Army Air Forces in June of 1942, and traveled the US for training courses with the service during WWII. He was a proud member of the American Legion. After the war he owned Leo's Bar in Balta for a time, and then enrolled in NDSU, where he earned his bachelor's degree and began teaching VoAg. He met fellow student Dorothy Anderson at the Newman Center and they were married at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Belfield, ND, on June 7, 1954. Together they had five children. They started out on a farm near Devils Lake. After farming for three years Leo returned to teaching VoAg and really enjoyed working with youth in FFA and Boys State. Former students often looked Leo up to thank him for the impact he had on their lives. In 1963 he retired from teaching to follow his dream of raising Charolais cattle on their ranch near Knox. Here they raised the top selling heifer in the ND State Charloais sale of 1972 and had the top selling bull the following spring. Leo was a member of the ND Stockmen's Association and served on the board of directors. Leo's faith was an important part of his life. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Knox and later the Little Flower Catholic Church in Rugby. He had been a Knight of Columbus since 1946, and was active in the Cursillo movement and made many friends there. He and Dorothy moved into Rugby in 1982. They enjoyed traveling and spending time with their seven grandchildren. Leo was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis in 2003, and admitted to PrairieView Nursing Home in Underwood. After he improved, he and Dorothy moved into the Haaland Home in Rugby, where they lived for several years until their health worsened and they moved back to PrairieView. They lived together there until Dorothy passed away in 2010. He was transferred to St. Vincent's Care Center in Bismarck in January of this year when the facility in Underwood was closed. Leo is survived by his children, Liane Daryl Anderson, Minot, Lynelle David Aukes, Eden Prairie, MN, Philip Lynn Schaan, Fargo, Kathleen Schaan Robert Scarlett, Bismarck, and Patricia Nader Dehaini, San Diego, CA; seven grandchildren, Clifton Anderson, Paul Aukes, Nicole, Sarah, and Michael Schaan, and Diana and Rhonda Dehaini, and one great-granddaughter, Kylee Pierson-Aukes. In addition, he leaves a brother, Carl Lois Schaan; sisters, Martha Daryl Schlichenmayer, Christine Edward Bertsch, Helen Klein, and Bernie John Duchscher; sister-in-law, Lugard Schaan; and brothers-in-law, Edward Senger, Alan Morrissey and Vincent Binstock. He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers, Philip, Frank, and John; sisters, Julia Senger and Dorothy Morrissey; brothers-in-law, Leo Klein, Leo Anderson, Joseph Miller; and sisters-in-law, Theresa Schaan, Edith Miller and Mary Ann Binstock. The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff members at the Haaland Home, PrairieView Nursing Home, Sanford Hospice, and St. Vincent's. Dad felt "really lucky" being cared for so well.

Leo Steve Schaan

July 23, 1920 - April 25, 2013