Stephen Peter Exley

Stephen Peter Exley was born April 7, 1946, and died January 28, 2026. A caring and competent man, he looked out for his younger brother and helped with his younger siblings when they were babies. He worked his way through the University of Minnesota, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business. Soon after beginning his first job as an accountant, Steve became head of the household, making a home for his four youngest siblings. An accomplished outdoorsman, he graduated from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and enjoyed backpacking in the mountains and canoeing in the BWCA. A wonderful husband and father, he was always thoughtful, dependable, kind, loving and funny. He coached his sons’ soccer teams for many years and enjoyed playing on an older men’s soccer team. Steve had a successful career as a CPA, becoming a partner in a small family firm, Lehrman, Lehrman and Flom, where he took care of his clients for over 30 years. He was finally overtaken by Parkinson’s Disease, which he battled with his customary persistence and good humor.

 He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Theresa Downing, and their two sons, Benjamin (Emily Topinka) and Andrew (Megan Smith), and two grandchildren, Clare and Christopher, brothers, Joseph (Rita Joe), Peter (Pam), Christopher (Nancy) and sisters Diane Skipton (Randall) and Mary Jo Murphy (Patrick) and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Peter and Phyllis Benjamin Exley, and his brother, James. 

A private burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Rather than getting flowers please donate to Friends of the Boundary Waters. A celebration of Steve’s life will be held at Becketwood at a later date.