Steve Nupdal

Steve Nupdal, 93, of Cavalier, ND passed away Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton, ND. Services for Steve will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 25, 2016 at United Lutheran Church in Cavalier, ND. Visitation will be held from 3-5:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, 2016 at Askew Funeral Home in Cavalier, ND. Interment will be at Mountain Cemetery, Mountain, ND.

Steve was born on August 17, 1922 to Sigurbjorn and Gudrun (Thomasson) Nupdal in Mountain, ND. Steve, his four brothers and four sisters all worked hard doing chores and working the fields. Steve thought he would continue farming once he was older since as a young man he was often hired out to manage farms while sons and husbands were deported by the draft. Steve thanks Thor Gudmundson with altering his career path. Thor had needed a hand in his construction business, and Steve had needed a job. Steve married Eva Gullingsrud on November 22, 1947, and they began their life together living in a camper on the farmyard of the first house Thor and Steve built. The first house they built was completed in 1948 and construction of other houses continued from there. From houses in Grand Forks back to houses, and even a church, in the northern valley, the pair of Icelandic carpenters took great pride in their work. When providing for his family which eventually grew to eleven became a priority, Steve & his brothers formed their own business and continued to build, many times working at least ten hours a day and then returning to the worksite at night after the crew had gone home. Eva helped in the business by assisting Steve with the time consuming bookwork. The Nupdal business became a family affair as Steve’s sons and nephews learned the trade working alongside him as they got older. Steve taught many young men the carpentry trade. Along with custom houses & custom cabinetry, they were able to build apartments, warehouses & other farm buildings in and around many towns in the northern valley which provided for good, steady work.

Along with the many joys, Steve and Eva also had some sadness. Two of their sons, Stewart and Rory, were killed in car accidents, and another son, Dennis, suffered life-threatening injuries in a car accident which kept him in at the hospital in Fargo for many months. Still having to provide for his family, Steve would work all day and then drive to Fargo in the early evenings to sit with Dennis and return to the worksite at dawn. Dennis survived, but the experience changed Steve. He became even stronger, more productive, and more devoted to his wife and family.

Steve Nupdal was a builder. He not only erected beams and trusses, footings and walls, but he also raised a family. Surviving Steve are his wife of 68 years, Eva, of Grafton, ND; children: Dianne (Gerald) Gerlach of West Fargo, ND, Roger (Mae) Nupdal of Clarksville, TN, Cindy (Randy) Meece of Fargo, ND, Andy Nupdal (Janice Townson) of Hensel, ND, Amber Greenwood (fiancé Ty Miller) of Cavalier, ND, Jason (Ellen) Nupdal of Hallock, MN, James (Amanda) Nupdal of Crystal, ND and Joe Nupdal (Janet Schmitz) of Hensel, ND; 15 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and sister Eleanor Stabo of Edinburg, ND. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, sons- Rory, Stewart, and Dennis, three sisters and four brothers.