Steven "Steve" Alter

Steven R. “Steve” Alter, age 66 of Long Prairie, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, November 27, 2023 at the CentraCare Long Prairie Hospital in Long Prairie, Minnesota.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 9 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre with Rev. Rebecca Thomas officiating. A private inurnment will be held at a later date.

Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Steven Reid Alter was born February 12, 1957 in Princeton, Minnesota to Reid, Jr. and Audree (Larson) Alter. He graduated from Sauk Centre High School in 1975. Steve started his schooling at Alexandria Technical College. He furthered his education at Dunwoody Institute and graduated at the top of his class and with honors in 1978.

After graduation he moved to Cavalier, North Dakota where he started his first business venture, but after three years, moved back to the Long Prairie area. Steve worked in his home area for several other companies until 2002 when he started his own company, East Lake HVAC-R. In 2005, he proudly changed the name to “Alter HVAC-R LLC” and for the next 18 years provided personal service to his clients.

Steve’s favorite things in life started with spending time with family and friends, Bar-B-Queing in the back yard. Snowmobile racing, hunting, and fishing were also some of his past times if he could work them in.

Steve’s laughter, generous and loving spirit will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and loyal customers. He treated everyone like family.

Survivors include his significant other, Lois Raile of Long Prairie; father, Reid S. Alter, Jr. of Sauk Centre; sister, Christine Zitur of Sauk Rapids; nephew, Matthew S. Osterholt (Stacey) of Sartell; niece, Laura (Osterholt) Hedlund (Cole) of Sauk Rapids; and many loving relatives and friends.

Steve was preceded in death by his mother, Audree A. Alter on September 2, 2022; and brother-in-law, Thomas R. Zitur on October 17, 2023.