Kris Stokke

Kristjan “Kris” Lee Stokke, 54, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, passed away suddenly on October 8, 2023. The funeral service will be held Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 3:00 pm at CrossWinds Church in Spirit Lake. Visitation will be on Friday, October 13, 2023 from 5:00-7:00 PM at CrossWinds Church.

Kris was born on April 3, 1969 in Langdon, North Dakota to Kenneth and Katherine Stokke. Growing up in several small towns in North Dakota and spending majority of it in Drayton, ND where he married Kathryn “Katy” (Driscoll) Stokke on July 9, 1988 on a “Saturday in the Park”. Together they raised three children, primarily in Warroad, Minnesota and Spirit Lake, Iowa. His greatest joy was being a husband and dad until he got the honor of being promoted to papa. His favorite quote was, “If I had known that grandkids were this much fun, we would have had them first”. As a lifelong trucker, Kris was proud of being an independent owner operator. He was a member of CrossWinds Church since 2002. Until his death he could give you the exact day and month of his sobriety which was February 13, 1997.

In his past-time, Kris enjoyed traveling with Katy on their Harley and mastering the selfie. His greatest joy was his family, as a papa you could always find candy in his pockets and a grandchild in his arms. If he wasn’t helping another friend or family with their remodel or vehicle, he could be found tinkering on his own vehicles or starting a remodeling project (with or without his wife’s approval). He was the most patient man who taught his family how to parent, cook, sew, garden, build, fix anything, and drive. He was always a phone call away for directions anywhere all he needed was a landmark to get you where you were going. He left a lasting impression on everyone he met as he was the easiest person to talk with. As a very sentimental man you always knew you were loved because he wasn’t afraid to show it through his handmade gifts or say it along with one of his famous hugs.

Kris is survived by his wife, Katy; his children: Kassie (David) Guthrie, Jesse (Ellie) Stokke, and Kendra (Hunter) Clayton; honorary child India Shipley; his grandchildren: Asher Guthrie; Jericho, Harper, Hadley, and Jonah Stokke; Jackson, Addison, and Emersyn Clayton; Noah Stokke (nephew who he thought of as a grandchild); his mother, Katherine Stokke, and his brothers: Kurt (Rose) Stokke, Kraig (Jenny) Stokke, Kent (Alyce) Stokke, and Kyle (Katie) Stokke and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father Kenneth Stokke, grandparents, Alfred & Jennie Byron and Morris & Pearl Stokke, and grandbabies lost in pregnancy.