Steven "Steve" Hayer , 43, of 525 34th Avenue SW - Unit E, Minot, ND 58701, died Friday, November 4, 2011 in a Minot Hospital.

Steve was born November 2, 1968, in Minot, North Dakota, the son of Robert and Roxy (Vangsness) Hayer. He was raised and educated in Minot.At an early age, Steve began working for area bee companies and, in 1986, went to work locally for Peters Apiaries. In 2004, he combined his early work in the bee industry with his experience as a cross-country truck driver to launch his own business, Hayer Honey &Pollination Company.

Steve lived and loved what he did - referring to the bees as "his little girls." With nearly 6,000 hives to maintain, Steve and his workers transported the hives to California every fall and back again to North Dakota every spring.

Steve loved North Dakota. An avid sportsman, he fished, hunted and had a love of North Dakota's nature. He also loved riding his Harley in the summer sun and his snow mobile through the winter snow.

But most of all, Steve loved people - his family, his friends, his workers and strangers he happened to meet along the way. Although he never had children of his own, his love of children fueled his generosity to meet the needs of so many.

Quite simply, Steven loved life. And, his greatest tribute is that he was loved in return by all who knew him. His kindness and generosity touched many lives and his memory will live on with us all.

Steve is survived by his mother, Roxy (Hayer) Denney, Albuquerque, NM; sister, Rondi (Nick) Hartert, Chesapeake, VA; step brothers Marshall & Mark Denney, step sister Michelle Denney Turner; grandmother, Pearl Hayer, Bismarck, ND; nieces & nephews, Alex, Jason, Katie, Natalie &Devyn; Aunts and Uncles, Jan & Arnold Ellwein, Sacramento, CA, Jan & David Hayer, Mandan, Don & Beth Vangsness, Fargo; and his dog, Gringo.

Steve was preceded in death by his father Robert, grandfather, Alva Hayer, grandparents, Karl & Doris (Skarsgard) Vangsness.

Funeral Service : Friday, November 11, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in Zion Lutheran Church, Minot.

Interment: Sunset Memorial Park, Minot.

Visitation : Thursday from 2:00 - 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials are preferred to DaySun's Day of Giving (a local children's charity) or St. Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN.