Naomi Stevens, 67, of Williston, ND passed away on Monday, May 12, 2025 at the Bethel Lutheran Nursing and Rehabilitation Home in Williston, ND.

Naomi was born on May 23rd, 1957, in Culbertson MT to Lorring and Ardis Stevens. Naomi was left with intellectual and developmental disabilities after an illness at the age of 3. Her family moved around quite a bit when she was a young child. She lived and was educated in Medicine Lake MT, Havre MT and Kalispell MT. Because of her disabilities, the family moved to Williston ND, so Naomi could attend UMARC. When she was in her early 20’s, she moved to Plentywood MT and lived at Glen-Wood and worked at their recycling center. She later moved back to Williston ND and lived at Opportunity Foundation. She worked at Wise Penny, but she had a bit of a temper, and she was scaring the customers. They moved her to the recycling center, which didn’t work out so well either. They then gave her the job of wiping off the dining room tables after meals. She would only wash one very small spot, but that one spot was extremely clean! She would give hugs to the others that worked there, and she’d tell them she loved them and that they were beautiful. While living there, she had an incident that left her more disabled, and she then moved into Bethel where she lived until her passing.

Naomi loved listening to music, especially Kenny Rogers. Christmas was her favorite time of year and Silent Night was her most cherished hymn. She adored her Barbies, stuffed animals, and her dolls (all named Tammy). She enjoyed picking dandelions and Mom received many dandelion bouquets over the years. She also enjoyed harvest season when we picked sunflowers and decorated the grain trucks and pickups. But more than her love of flowers was her love of rocks. She had buckets beyond buckets of rocks – in the closets, under the bed and in the quonset. She participated in the Special Olympics a few times, but she was more interested in what everyone else was doing or in finding a rock.

Naomi had a few nicknames growing up – Speed (because there was nothing speedy about her), Naomi Nadine & Nomes. If you mispronounced her name or made her mad in any way, she would damn you to hell and no one could damn you to hell like Naomi could. It was something you would never forget. If she got your name wrong the first time; it was always going to be wrong. Her brother-in-law, Brett has always been “Brent”, her nephew, Caleb was “Haleb” and her niece, Lexie will always be “Stupid Dumb Baby Lexie”. She liked to give people nicknames, some were funny and others, not so complementary.

Naomi had a love for animals and they loved her, except for the feral cats. She tried so hard to love them and they weren’t having any of that. She’d capture one and try to drag it home, she’d be shredded but she wouldn’t let go. She thought red cardinals were so beautiful. She would look at pictures of them for hours and she had shirts and jackets with cardinals on them. Naomi had a heart of gold. She could not stand to see anyone sad or hurting.

We know Naomi is in heaven with her Lord & Savior, and she has been reunited with Mom & Dad and all of those who have gone on before her. Her beloved pets were there to greet her, along with the feral cats that God has tamed down for her. We will meet again someday and have a glorious
reunion.

Naomi is survived by her siblings, brother, Dusty (Tricia) Stevens of Gilbert, SC; sister, Lorri (Brett) Hinricksen of Williston, ND; nephews, Caleb (Micki) Hinricksen of Williston, ND, Tyler (Liz) Hinricksen of Williston, ND, nieces, Lexie (Tyrel Halverson) Hinricksen, of Williston, ND, Michele Stevens of San Antonio, TX; great-nieces, Easton Hinricksen, Freya Hinricksen; great-nephews, Cayden Halverson, Bennett Halverson, William Hinricksen, Rowdy Hinricksen; aunt, Vickie (Hank) Penner, aunt, Elotie Stevens; and numerous cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lorring and Ardis Stevens; paternal grandparents, Dennis (Denny) and Ann Stevens; maternal grandparents, Victor and Millie Fishell and Vern Stevens.