Deborah Sims Stelter

Deborah Sims Stelter, 71, of Bismarck, passed away peacefully at her home not far from the Missouri River - that she so loved - in Bismarck on Oct. 29, 2026. A memorial service will be at 10:30 am Friday Nov. 6 at Bismarck Funeral Home. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Washburn in the afternoon.

The story of this caring, loving and artistic woman began on the banks of her beloved river.

She was born Deborah Mae Sims on July 13, 1955, in the home of her parents, William and Vivian (Hoyer) Sims, along the Missouri at Washburn, ND. Deb grew up and was educated in that beautiful river side town and then moved for a time to Idaho and the East Coast before returning to Bismarck.

There she began a lifelong career in food service working at the Hong Kong restaurant, taking pride in her ability to serve customers so they felt satisfied and happy. It was while she was at the Hong Kong that she met her husband, Stan Stelter, and they married, on Feb. 20, 1987. She continued her work at the Hong Kong, but later began a second career in the floral design business. She decided to enhance her floral skills by completing a special floral design course in Nashville, TN, where she also enjoyed the renowned music scene. With that accomplishment, Deb returned to become involved in floral shops, including operating her own floral shop in Washburn for a time and then at Bismarck Floral and also at the former Central Floral with her sister, DeAnn Yunker.

Her love for music flowed throughout her life. She spent many hours playing guitar and singing with her son, Ryan Sims, and listening to local performances by his bands. Deb enjoyed it when Ryan and bandmates would practice in the garage of our rented ranch house just a stone’s throw from the Missouri. She became involved with the local bluegrass music association, helping to put on annual concerts in Bismarck and at Cross Ranch State Park near Washburn.

Deb’s love for the Missouri River was naturally tied to another love: fishing. She and Stan spent many hours fishing along the river’s banks, especially at her “secret” spot near Huff that she insisted her husband never reveal to anyone. There she was in her prime, watching lines, attaching bait, jumping up to land fish and happily enjoying the fresh air.

Through AA and her strong belief in God, Deb celebrated 36 years of sobriety. She held her AA friends close to her heart and helped countless people who also struggled with addiction.

Deb loved all of her family, but her greatest joy came in July 2020 with the birth of grandson Maverick Sims. She immediately offered to provide grandma and grampa daycare, and so began a six-year period of great happiness and delight for Deb, caring for Maverick. She was never more content than when she sat with Maverick in her arms, doing the loving things that grandmas do.

Tragically, Deb was diagnosed with cancer in May 2026 and she and Stan, along with Ryan and his wife Janelle, began a journey of treatments that gave hope twice but they didn’t hold up. She courageously fought the disease for five months, always being kind and graceful as she did. She was surrounded by family in those final days and hours, hearing how much she was loved.

Deb is survived by her husband Stan of 39 years; one son, Ryan Sims (Janelle), Bismarck; two step-daughters, Lisa McLeod (Tater) of Audubon, MN, and Shannon LeFebre of Hettinger; two step-sons, Blair Stelter of Mesa, AZ, and Shawn Stelter (Chanda) of Bismarck; two sisters, Marlys (Tom) Thompson, Glendive, MT, and DeAnn (Doug) Yunker, Fargo; and many grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Deb was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers, Dennis, Curtis, Ronnie, Billy, and Richie Sims, and a special brother-in-law, Bruce Stelter. 

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo or Bismarck Special Olympics.