Steven “Brice” Brenno
In the afternoon of Aug. 4, 2020, Brice tragically died at Sanford Hospital in Bismarck, N.D., after sustaining injuries in a car accident earlier that day. He was 25 years old.
Brice was born a hefty 10-pounder at Sanford Hospital, Bismarck, Nov. 10, 1994, at 10 p.m. He was the first child of Steve Brenno and only child of Lennae Grahn, both of whom were adoring parents.
As a toddler, Brice was a funny, happy little kid with white hair (once he grew some) and the biggest blue eyes ever. He loved being read stories and learning his alphabet, particularly the R’s “Rrrrrr” and W’s “Wuh!”
It wasn’t long before Brice found his true love. Sports. He was hitting toy golf clubs and batting off a tee before he was three. He loved to show off to sales clerks how he could jump. He loved Michael Jordan. At three, he once declared on an elevator that he was Michael Jordan. Another passenger, a boy maybe seven, was skeptical. He asked Brice, “If you’re Michael Jordan, then what’s your number?” Brice proudly announced, “3 and 2!” Not bad for a little squirt!
Brice was soon playing soccer and T-ball, coached by his dad. He added basketball, coached by his mom, and bowling in his elementary years. He entered bowling tournaments winning scholarship money and even rolled a 202 at age nine.
Brice was also a big fan of Harry Potter. He and his mom would listen to the audiobooks on the way to and from school and work and sometimes have to wait a few minutes in the parking lot if it was an especially exciting part.
He started “real” golf and snow-boarding when he was nine. He also enjoyed playing rollerblade hockey in the cul de sac with all of his neighbors. Brice participated in traveling baseball and pitched with his signature side arm delivery. At 12, he once struck out 13 batters in a six-inning game.
He went to elementary and middle school in Bloomington, Minn., and moved to Watford City, N.D., after sixth grade, where he attended Watford City Junior High and Senior High.
Brice was the quarterback for the Watford City Wolves in 7th-11th grade. He also played high school basketball, baseball, Legion baseball, and qualified for the North Dakota State Tournament in track when he was a sophomore.
During high school, Brice was continuously surrounded by friends. They went on ski/snowboarding vacations, supported each other’s sports, and generally did a lot of goofing around. There was the planking, the owling, and the balancing large and heavy objects on their chins in shop class. Many of them went on a European trip after graduation - Brice mentioned that Switzerland was the most amazing place he’d ever seen.
Brice graduated in 2013 and entered Montana State University that fall. It is uncertain how much time he spent in the library, but he managed to become a regular on the snowboarding hill.
As an adult, Brice was an avid and talented golfer and played with Steve regularly and Lennae during their visits. He captained his local slow-pitch softball team and played darts in the local leagues. He also cheered for the Minnesota sports teams and attended Vikings, Wild, Twins, and Timberwolves games with his parents.
Brice worked at Fox Hills Golf Course in Watford City for four seasons. He had recently begun to work in the oil field as a welders helper. He was learning the trade and hoped to progress into welding himself.
Brice was an organ donor, giving comfort to his parents that he may have saved someone else’s life.
Brice was preceded in death by his “Grandpa Konnie,” Konrad Norstog; and aunt, Glennae Brenno.
Brice is survived by his parents, Steve and Tammy Brenno, of Watford City and Lennae Grahn Norstog and Jeff Jara, of Rosemount, Minn.; sisters, Shannon, Elizabeth and Victoria; brother, Eric; grandparents Rollie and Judy Dahl, of Watford City and Sharon Norstog, of Shell Lake, Wis.; aunts and uncles, Ann and John Taylor, Jeff Grahn and Craig Schmidt, Chris Dahl and Craig Dahl; cousins, Shawna Carter, Skylar Rogness, Justyse Dahl, Aria Dahl, Emily De Niro, Greta Cameron, Jennifer Haver and Zak Taylor; and countless numbers of friends and teammates.
A casual service for family and close friends was held Friday, Aug. 14, at Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home in Watford City. A reception open to all followed at Steve and Tammy’s residence. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to LifeSource at life-source.org, (612-800-6100), the organization that was able to harvest Brice’s usable organs.
A golf outing at Fox Hills in Brice’s honor was held Saturday, Aug. 15.