Stephen Arnold Palmer

Steve “Stevo” passed away peacefully November 30, 2013 at Avera McKennan Hospital after suffering a massive stroke. He was born to Arnold and Patsy (Josephson) Palmer in Golden Valley July 26, 1951. He was baptized and confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church of Golden Valley. Steve graduated from Golden Valley High School in 1969. He worked at various jobs in the construction industry and was a member of the Minnesota National Guard during the Vietnam War. He attended the University of Minnesota, achieving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1984. Later, he graduated from the William Mitchell College of Law with a Juris Doctor degree in 1987. Steve opened his own law firm in Loretto Minnesota in 1991, consulting clients regarding wills, trusts and estate planning. Steve would go to the house of the elderly and handicapped clients. He also had clients at Canterbury Downs and loved to go “backside” to see the horses and watch them race. Horse racing for a time became a Palmer family favorite – a day at the track. August 8, 1997, Steve was united in marriage to Cory Lee Josephson at Atonement Lutheran Church in St. Cloud. It was love at first site and love at last site. They bought a house together on Kilian Blvd. in St. Cloud. After Steve sold his law business, he worked for the State of Minnesota Planning Division during Jesse Ventura’s term as governor. Steve travelled all over Minnesota, verifying, and recording city annexations. In his reports he often gave advice for the best dining options and hotel stays in the small towns he visited. After selling their St. Cloud Home in 2005, Steve and Cory spent summers in Alaska, working in or near Denali National Park, while renting a trailer in Healy, Alaska. Some winters were spent on extended road trips, visiting friends met in Alaska, or judging ribs in Memphis, and others were spent with Frank Josephson on his farm. He and Cory enjoyed going to small town festivals and camping in state parks whenever possible. Steve and Frank always enjoyed talking about politics and life in general, or just sitting at the dining room table reading the newspapers. Steve loved the comics the best. Steve loved picnics, grilling outside, beer, nature hikes, going down the road on a trip, visiting good friends, and our good neighbors, Kathy and Joe from St. Cloud, and Bruce and Colleen Thompson of Healy, Alaska. Steve also loved going to Iceland and all those Josephson Reunions. His friends were friends for life. He’d always keep in touch. He had a gentle heart and was a devoted and loving husband above all else. He even admitted that his wife was right most of the time. Steve is survived by his wife, Cory of Minneota; parents, Arnold and Patsy (Josephson) Palmer of Rockford; brother, Scott (Pam) Palmer of Durango, CO; sister, Cyndy (Russ) Iverson of Plymouth; and other family and friends.