To view the family service, click here: https://youtu.be/C73rme3RhoE

To view the funeral service, click here: https://youtu.be/YGZ2BRLuZY8

ANTLER - Steven Gregory Lauer, 71, Antler, went home to his Lord and Savior on Sunday, August 7, 2022.
He was born April 4, 1951, in Mansfield, OH, to Mary Lou (Earhart) Lauer and Frederick William Lauer. Steve grew up in Ohio and graduated from Malbar High School in 1969.  He attended Grace Brethren College in Winona Lake, IN, and received a bachelor's degree in music. He was on several traveling music teams including "Brass in Dimensions" and "The Spokemen's" where he played his trumpet, sang, and traveled on pedal bikes up and down the East Coast. Steve moved to California for a short while and was a Youth Director in a local church.  In 1974, his good college buddy said "Lauer, come to North Dakota – I have a teaching job lined up for you in Souris."  So, North Dakota bound, he came and taught music for one year.  He then moved to Maxbass, and worked as a mechanic with the Haakenson Brothers and soon after, met the "love of his life," Christine Thompson.
Steve didn't believe in long engagements, so he and Christine were married just six months after meeting, on October 15, 1977.  He and Christine would have celebrated their 45 ^th anniversary this year.  After marriage, Steve moved to Minot where Christine had a job and he worked as a mechanic for one year.  Steve and Christine had the opportunity to go to Australia with another couple, for one month, with a traveling Christian Basketball Team and they sang together for the half-time entertainment.  In the fall of 1978, they moved to Kenmare where he had lined up a teaching job.  They lived there for three years and then moved to Antler to farm with Christine's dad, Justin.  Steve always said that he was a "blank slate" when it came to farming and eagerly learned everything Justin was willing to share.  They quickly became best friends and made a great farm and ranch team.  Steve passed on his love of farming to Matthew who took over the operation in 2018!
Steve and Chris were blessed with three children, Jennifer, Angela, and Matthew.  They were thrilled when each one found and married Christian spouses and were blessed with nine beautiful grandchildren.  Those precious grandkids were his pride and joy!
Steve taught music in Souris, Kenmare, and Westhope.  He served as a substitute teacher in Sherwood and Mohall.  He drove school bus for Maxbass, Kenmare, Antler, Westhope and Mohall.  He was the Tax Assessor for the Antler Township for many years!  Steve was hired as a rural mail carrier for the Antler Postal Service, which later moved to Westhope.  Steve retired in 2018 after 20 years of service!
He was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church, rural Antler.  He served on the Bethel Trustee Board for several years, was a member of the Gideons Ministry, he taught the teen Sunday school class, was active leading worship and directed several Easter and Christmas Cantatas. Steve taught Archery in the Westhope School with a dear friend for two years, and helped start the Bethel Bow Club, which engages both adults and youth in the community.  He served in this ministry for 29 years, using the platform to live out the club's moto, "Walk by Faith-Shoot by Sight."  Steve was an avid hunter and even filled his fall archery tag and spring turkey tag with the help of great friends.
After retirement, Steve bought a 2003 Anniversary Model Corvette and joined the Northern Plains Corvette Club in Minot.  He and Christine also began playing pickleball in the Lansford Gym with several area players.  They enjoyed all the new Christian friends they made during his first years of retirement!  Steve loved to garden with his grandkids, and thanks to a great friend with a tiller, he made a garden that produced some of the best sweet corn in the county!
Steve was diagnosed with ALS in December of 2020 but had symptoms starting in 2018.  God doesn't make mistakes; He used Steve and his ALS to further His Kingdom!  Steve touched a lot of lives in his lifetime and his main goal and purpose in life was to always share who Jesus was and what Jesus did for us.  Even though ALS took his voice, his testimony and journey with ALS can be found on YouTube at ALS and Steve Lauer.
We can't thank everyone enough for making this difficult journey more enjoyable for him.  Thank you to everyone who came to visit, brought donuts, food, all the cards, phone calls, texted, or just waved!  Special thanks to Pastor Dave and Pastor Harper for always being there in prayer and offering words of encouragement and inspirational music videos!
He was loved by all and will be missed by many!  Praise God for Steve Lauer!  "You ran the race and won the prize:  being with Jesus and seeing Him face to face!"
Family: Steve is survived by his wife of 44+ years, Christine (Thompson) Lauer, rural Antler; daughters, Jennifer (Lars) Coleman, Snohomish, WA, Angela (Charles) Strand, Westhope; son, Matthew (Gwendoline) Lauer, rural Antler; grandchildren, Emily and Lucas Coleman, Brynn, Miraya and Charlee Strand, Lochlyn, Taelyn, Callan, Torran Stevie-Jo Lauer; mother, Mary Lou Lauer Thompson, and her husband, Stan Thompson, St. Petersburg, FL; brother, Bruce (Barbara) Lauer. Odessa, FL; and several nieces, a nephew, and cousins.
Steve is preceded in death by: his father, Frederick Lauer; nephew, Bryan Lauer; father- and mother-in-law, Justin and Phyllis Thompson; and sister-in-law, Janell (Thompson) Power.
Funeral: 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 13, 2022, at Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church, rural Antler.
Burial: Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church Cemetery, rural Antler.
Sharing of Memories Service: 7:30 p.m., Friday, August 12, 2022, at the church.
Visitation: 4:00 p.m. until the service time, Friday, at the church.
(Brose Funeral Home, Mohall)