Steven Oye

STEVE OYE was born to Morris and Agnes (Novak) Oye on February 6, 1960 in Pipestone, Minnesota. He was baptized on April 10, 1960 at the Altona Methodist Church, and he was raised on the farm north of Pipestone. In 1973, he moved with his parents to Hadley, Minnesota. At this time, he started his education at the school in Pipestone. He also attended school in Ruthton, Minnesota for one year until he entered the school in Slayton, Minnesota. He graduated from there with his special friends in May, 1981. After completing his education, he continued to live with his parents and he worked at the Murray County DAC in Slayton. In 1995, he moved with them to Pipestone. In the summer of 2001, Steve moved into Hope Haven where he was given a lot of love and compassion. During this time, he was employed by Progress, Inc. On Monday, November 21, 2011, Steve became ill with pneumonia and was admitted to the Pipestone County Medical Center where he died later that same day at the age of 51 years, nine months and 15 days.

When he was living in Hadley, Steve was a member of the Hadley Lutheran Church. He was currently a member of First Lutheran Church in Pipestone. While he was attending school in Slayton, he learned to bowl. He participated in Special Olympics where he earned ribbons and medals in bowling, softball throw, shot put and the free throw shooting. He enjoyed doing crafts which consisted of fuzzy felt posters, and many notebooks of “doodling”. Steve loved to shop and always made sure he got a couple new shirts when staff and friends went to the mall. He was an avid Dukes of Hazard fan. Steve had a passion for music and would whoop it up on the dance floor at many dances. He looked forward to the weekends, as this was a time when he went for rides and a treat with his mom and his brother, Rich. Steve was not a man of many words, but in the last few months of his life he talked more than he ever did telling family and staff how much he loved them.

He is lovingly remembered by his mother, Agnes Oye of Pipestone, Minnesota; two brothers, Ronald Oye and his wife Cynthia of Aurora, South Dakota, and Richard Oye of Pipestone, Minnesota; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He will be remembered and greatly missed by all of the special staff at Hope Haven and his very special friends, Jeremy, Brian and Eric. He was preceded in death by his father, Morris.