Richard Earl Stephens

Richard Earl Stephens passed away November 3, 2023 at his home in Blackfoot, Idaho. He came into this world July 9, 1928 in Kimball, Nebraska. He is the second son of Willard Washington Stephens and Gladys Knerr.

He grew up on his family’s 160 acre farm near Lincoln, Nebraska. It was during the Great Depression era which led to his father’s inability to pay the final $500 owed on the farm and it was lost. With a little money salvaged from the farm his father moved the family of four to a homestead in northern Idaho when Richard was seven. The homestead was on the northern edge of Lake Pend Oreille about 50 miles from the Canadian border. The homestead was located in the dense forest and wasn’t much. It consisted of 2 bedrooms and another room for a living area. There was no electricity or running water; the heating and cooking was by the use of a wood stove. The nearest neighbor was a mile away and the nearest town was about 15 miles away. His father took any job he could find to support his family; a short time as a ranch hand in Oregon. The Depression era was easing and work opportunities improved. So, in 1937 his father moved his family back to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and began working for the U. S. Forest Service in the timber camps and building logging roads. Richard and his brother attended schools near Sandpoint, Coeur d’Alene and Oregon. He fondly reminisced how near and dear to his heart the time in northern Idaho was.

Opportunities continued to arise, and the family moved to Pocatello when Richard was 12. His father took a job at the Army Air Base and his mother owned and operated a small hamburger/hotdog business on what was known as the “Miracle Mile” in Pocatello. High school and beyond Richard held jobs that earned him money to satisfy his love and lust to fly airplanes.

Richard felt the military needed his talents and so he served a term in the United States Marine Corp. This was just at the end of WWII and he was stationed in Oceanside, California. While in the USMC he bought an airplane, a PT 19. While in Oceanside he met and married Virginia Henry and moved to Idaho. He held different driving jobs before beginning his life-long career with the transportation operation at the INL. Richard, his father Willard, and his brother Willard (Bud) were part of the original group of AEC bus drivers that started the operation in May 1951. In a short time, the family included two sons, Jimmy Earl, and Dave Corwin. Richard drove bus for 20 years and then finished his working career as the transportation safety engineer for the next 20 years. He and Virginia were later divorced. Richard retired in 1991 after 40 years.

Prior to retirement he married his soul mate, Janice Stanger. On retirement he desired to follow his father’s retirement path and visit the places his father visited often. So, the first winter he and Janice took their motorhome to Death Valley, California. It was there they met folks from Oklahoma who talked about a place in Arizona. So the next year they visited this Arizona spot and it became their winter retreat. The retreat was Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (ORPI) and there they learned about park volunteers and worked as campground hosts. They returned over the next 7 winters expanding their service to include working for maintenance, and later giving interpretative programs. They were fortunate to also work two summers as the only volunteers, a time they cherished. Richard’s greatest joy was dressing in old west attire and relating stories and history of the park and the area. Every Saturday, big pots of cowboy coffee were brewed over the fire and served to all who attended while listening to his stories. The last two winters were the most rewarding: providing a weekly Dutch oven dinner to winter visitors out on one of the scenic drives along with sharing historical ranching history and stories.

Richard was a good hearted and spiritual man, having learned from his father. His father was large in stature and character and was respected by everyone not because of his size but also his religious beliefs. The following is quoted from a history that Richard composed many years ago.

“Dad was a Christian man attended church quite regularly in Nebraska. However, here in Idaho, church was a long ways away and money to buy gas was scarce. We did go to church once in awhile. I remember talking to Dad one day about church. I can’t remember what we were doing that summer day, but we were deep in the forest, resting sitting on the lush pine needle covered ground. I can remember Dad somewhat apologetically talked about not attending church, and he said that going to church does not make a person a Christian.

He told me to look around from where we were resting and when I did, he said that what I could see was my church. He also said that I was privileged because God was the minister, and each and every day, he gave a sermon. Dad told me to listen and see if I could hear the sermon at that very moment. He said that the sermon may be the wind through the trees, the beautiful sunset, a soft falling rain, the sound of the creek, or the chatter of wildlife. Dad said to make sure that I understood God’s message, for he created everything that we see, hear, and feel, and he also said for me to look toward the heavens occasionally and thank God for the daily sermon.”

Richard also learned from his father the fine art of working with wood which was his hobby of choice for all his days. It is evident throughout his home from the ceiling to the furniture and one-of-a-kind items that he created.

He loved to share his wood creations with all the people that were dear to him. What began as tokens of the holidays for our friends at the bank, later grew to include friends at local eating establishments (not just the servers, but every employee was recognized somehow), the dentist office, doctor’s office, and other people near and dear to our heart. The list grew every year resulting in a year-long activity of creating, assembling, finishing and delivering something new each year. Over the years there have been numerous wooden boots, sleighs, Santas, wooden baskets of different styles, wood jewelry boxes of differing styles, carved pencil holders, wooden bowls. The numbers total in the hundreds. The best gift received was the thank you notes, the smile and visit from the people we remembered. Even knowing that it was no longer possible to make anything from his loved wood, he tried to create something to express thanks for friendships over the years, allowing us to enter special lives and share each other’s love.

He enjoyed sharing a witty remark and pleasant conversation with a total stranger. Often, in the future, he would enjoy a positive repeat encounter with that person that led to new friendships.

Truly this quote is appropriate to summarize Richard’s life. “In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa.

Richard is survived by his wife, Janice. Also, his sons Jimmy (Mary) Blackfoot, Idaho, and Dave (Barbara) Atmore, Alabama and 6 grandchildren. He is preceded in death by this father, Willard Washington, mother, Gladys, and his only brother Willard Roy.

A visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. Thursday, November 16, 2023 at Hawker Funeral Home, 132 S. Shilling Ave, Blackfoot, Idaho.

At the request from Richard, no service will be held.