Earl Carl Stegman

Earl C. Stegman, 81, Fargo, ND, died Saturday, November 3, 2018 at Sanford Medical Center surrounded by his wife Dottie and his children, Nancy, Susan, and Dan. He was a lifelong academic, devoted husband, father & grandfather, a North Dakota native with a proud farming heritage, and a quiet, steady soul who will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Earl was born at home to Carl and Margaret Stegman on October 9, 1937 in Neche, ND. He grew up on the family farm, attended a one-room country grade school, and graduated from Neche High School where he was a top student, avid baseball player, and member of the basketball team. His college education began in the fall of 1955 at North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo, ND where he joined the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and made lifelong friends. In 1959 he met Dorothy Gilbertson, at a St. Luke’s Nursing dance and asked her to dance – a pivotal moment in both their lives. He received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1959 and a master’s degree in 1961 both from NDSU.

On September 17, 1961 he married Dorothy A. Gilbertson of Maddock, ND – which he will tell you was the best decision of his life. Following their wedding, they moved to East Lansing, Michigan where Earl was an instructor and did graduate studies at Michigan State University (MSU). He received his doctoral degree in 1965 in Agricultural Engineering with a minor in Soil Physics from MSU.

Earl began his professional career in 1966 at NDSU in Fargo, ND where he served on staff for 37 years before retiring in 2003. He started in 1966 as an assistant professor and was promoted to full Professor with tenure in 1972. He was appointed Chair of the Agricultural Engineering department in 1991 and served in this role for 12 years during which time the department underwent a name and curriculum change becoming Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. He was instrumental in the process of changing the curriculum and the approval of a doctoral degree in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering.

He was a professor with a research and teaching emphasis in irrigation engineering, water resource management and agricultural hydrology. He was proud to have served as an advisor to many students at NDSU over the years where they remember him for his measured and thoughtful guidance in their lives.

Earl was also a well-respected researcher in the area of irrigation management methods. The author of more than 90 scientific papers and publications, two of which received outstanding paper recognition from the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, he was also a co-developer of an irrigation scheduling method widely used by irrigators in North Dakota and surrounding states.

He gave presentations at several national and international irrigation symposia, and served as a consultant to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation regarding the Garrison Diversion Project and to the California Coachella irrigation district regarding Colorado River diversion issues.

Earl has also been the recipient of awards including an NDSU Award for Research and Scholarly Activity and the NDSU President’s Bronze Medallion Award for extraordinary generosity, leadership & personal commitment to NDSU.

Raising their family, Dottie and Earl enjoyed taking their children on camping trips to northern Minnesota, road trips to the National Parks and summer days at the ND family farms. Earl was also an avid fisherman who had many treasured memories from his 20 years of fishing the Churchill River in Canada. He and his fisherman buddies had many adventures on the river over the years and he held those memories close.

Earl and his wife Dottie have enjoyed 15 years of retirement wintering in Arizona, traveling the world with family, and many rounds of golf. His athleticism allowed him to excel in golf during retirement and he so enjoyed his many days on the golf course with friends. He also served on the board of the New Life Center in Fargo, ND as service to others was paramount to him and has remained very involved with Messiah Lutheran Church including the Messiah Men’s Group where he has found comfort in his friendships. He also continued his close association with NDSU participating in numerous campus activities including being a life time Bison Football season ticket holder and rarely missing a home game.

He is survived by his wife, Dottie of Fargo; his daughters, Nancy (David) Lyskawa of Denver, CO, Susan (Tom) Stiller of Eden Prairie, MN and son, Dan (Melissa) of Waconia, MN; five grandchildren, Thomas Stiller, Fort Hood, TX, Samuel Lyskawa, St. Louis, MO, Madeline Lyskawa, New York, NY, Cole Stiller, Eden Prairie, MN and Miles Stegman, Waconia, MN; and one sister, Evelyn (Dave) Harris, Alexandria, MN.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Ralph Stegman.

Memorials are preferred to the NDSU Foundation – Earl Stegman Scholarship Fund or the Messiah Lutheran Church Fund.

Earl had already established the NDSU Foundation - Earl C. Stegman Scholarship Fund in the School of Engineering at NDSU. If you would like to contribute a memorial gift to this scholarship fund, please send this to Dottie directly or Nancy (Stegman) Lyskawa at 25156 E. Plymouth Circle, Aurora, CO 80016. Earl was committed to making education possible for all students.