Stephen 'Steve' Paul Kantrud, 55
Stephen “Steve” Paul Kantrud, 55, of Sandpoint, Idaho, died in the Kalispell Regional Medical Center from complications invoked by COVID-19 on May 27, 2021.
Steve was born in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, on December 9, 1965, to Stephen Leonard Kantrud and Arleen Holtz. His immediate family includes his brother, John and wife Melissa Burke; uncles Ken (Linda) and Chet (Elizabeth) Mostue, and Scott Shurtleff; and his grandmother, Verna Shurtleff, and many cousins. Steve’s one and only son, Jordan Daughtery, is left behind to carry out his father’s legacy. Jordan and his wife, Julia Battist, recently had their first son, Solal Frédéric Battist Daughtery, who will surely be listening to many great stories in the future about his amazing grandfather, Steve.
His “adopted” family from Sandpoint includes Jean and the late James Burgess, Kathy Holm, Trina and Dave Kennedy, Belinda and Todd Wilson, Kirsten and Sean Eggleston, and “adopted” nieces and nephews, Tanner and Tyler Kennedy and Sabrina Wilson. Numerous other family-friends in Sandpoint have been greatly influenced by Steve’s love and empathy throughout his time in Idaho.
Steve faced a life of uncertainty and thievery in his younger years, leading to his eventual prison sentence in Colorado. During his time in prison, Steve battled against his own self-anger, fear, and grief from his childhood. By the grace of God and being released, he began the journey toward a better life for himself and began a spiritual walk with God. At the beginning of his emotional rebirth, Steve became acquainted with Jean and Jim Burgess and eventually followedtheir path of healing to Sandpoint, where he claimed his newfound family and friends. From that point onward, he began to return the love and forgiveness shown to him by Jean and Jim to others in the community – some of which were as lost as he once was.
Steve was a kind gentleman that emulated love and compassion to those around him. Although his arms were carved with dark tattoos that illustrated his prison life, Steve’s gentle and warm embrace could instantly calm and comfort even the most intense fear. He pushed through his own emotional distress to nurture people in need and motivate them to create positive change in their own lives. His frank and explicit nature left no secrets or illusions to the truth of his tumultuous past, but rather exemplified the sincerity of his outstretched hands when Steve sought to help a truly lost individual. His rather gruff outward appearance starkly contrasted against the soft warmth that radiated from his caring soul and helped others emerge from their own shells and demons. At his core, Steve’s heart was full of love and passion, especially for the people who accepted his true self, and also for the ones seeking his guidance with their own emotional journeys. Steve’s leadership portrayed in the community, both in Sandpoint and in Colorado, helped him return the compassion that he was once given to others that were blessed with knowing him and his story.
Up until his passing, Trina and Dave Kennedy tended to his medical needs while Kirsten and Sean Eggleston took care of his personal belongings and his dogs, Cain and Willemina, who he adored greatly. Steve’s fiery spirit and kind, loving soul will be dearly missed by the many people he influenced throughout his life. His love will be passed on through those that were touched by his grace.
The memorial service for Stephen Paul Kantrud will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 20, at “The Mountain Beach,” his favorite place on Lake Pend Oreille. If those directions alone are clear enough for you, you are welcome to attend. (1547 West Oden Bay Road.)