In Memory of Steven Gilbraith

Steven Vincent Gilbraith, age 72, of Isanti, passed away on June 12, 2026.  A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, August 14th at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Isanti. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service, with lunch directly after service at the church, and internment to follow at Isanti Union Cemetery. The family will be hosting a reception to raise a toast to Steve at Wintergreens in Isanti from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Steve can be made to the AgriStress Helpline to support mental health and suicide prevention in agricultural communities.  https://www.justgiving.com/page/agristress-steven-v-gilbraith

Steve was born to Mary Jane and Max Vincent Gilbraith on November 23, 1953, in Van Nuys, CA. He was raised in Devils Lake and Bismark, ND, graduated from Anoka High School in 1971, and continued his education at Anoka Community College. Steve’s love of farming started at an early age, spending many summers working with his grandfathers, John Gilbraith and Joseph Ziegler.

On October 23, 1976, Steve was united in marriage to Mary Haywood at Epiphany Catholic Church in Coon Rapids, MN and then relocated to Devils Lake, ND to continue his love of farming. They were blessed with two children, Jamie and Shannon. In the summer of 1988, they purchased their own farm in Isanti, MN. Steve and Mary were married for 41 years. In addition to the demands of farming, Steve worked at Trimodal, Inc in Minneapolis as a mechanic and welder for 32 years.

Steve carried on his family’s Catholic faith and was an active member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. For many holiday seasons, Steve took pride in handpicking and placing the parish alter Christmas trees. Steve was generous with his time, treasure, and talents. He was the long-time treasurer of the Sahara Sands Arabian horse club. Steve believed you should leave things better than you found them and was always the first to show up in the neighborhood when a helping hand was needed. Each summer in July, everyone around Steve learned the value of hard work on the back of a bailing rack.

He enjoyed the adventure and thrill of riding snowmobile and motorcycle. Teaching his children early “if you can’t keep up, you can’t ride with”. Steve was a certified snowmobile safety instructor for 26 years, even if he didn’t always follow the rules himself.

Steve found tremendous joy in his grandchildren, allowing them to drive all kinds of farm equipment as soon as they could reach the throttle, regardless of their age. There was many driving lessons taught in his grandfather’s blue ’66 Chevy pickup.

He is survived by his children, Jamie (Jay) Salonen of Sioux Falls, SD and Shannon Gilbraith (Samantha) of Rathdrum, ID; his grandchildren, Gavin, Gabe, Everett, Evelynn, and Lucy; loving partner Mary Beth Pallo and his siblings Brian, Kevin, Kim, Kelly, Joesph, and Lisa; as well as many cousins, nephews, nieces, and other neighbors and friends who will dearly miss him.

Steven was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Mary, and his Godson Calvin Armburst.