John Lawrence Stephens was born in the Pahsimeroi Valley of Idaho on Jan. 31, 1927. His parents, John William and Ellen Irene Stephens (nee Fogarty) homesteaded in view of Mount Borah. That place was beloved of John. However, at thirteen, he left to attend high school.

John was drafted by the U.S. Army near the end of World War II and trained as a scout. After the war, he went to Panama as a medical supply sergeant.

John attended Washington State College (now Washington State University) in Pullman, where he met Dorothy Evelyn Branch, the love of his life. Their “story” reads like a movie script.

John received a degree in mechanical engineering and worked for Allis-Chalmers in Milwaukee and Stearns-Roger in Denver before going oversees to Saudi Arabia to work for the Trans-Arabian Pipeline Company, and later the Arabian-American Oil Company. He designed compressors, pump stations and power plants. John and Evelyn traveled the world with their four children: Ken Putnam, Lynn Stephens, Joanne Stephens (Pederson) and John D. Stephens.

After ten years overseas, the family returned to the USA. John received his master’s degree at WSU and became Facilities Engineer at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore. Upon retiring, John started his consulting business — Delta Engineering Services.

John and Evelyn thoroughly enjoyed Corvallis. They were active in Shepherd of the Valley Missouri Synod Lutheran Church. John was longtime treasurer of the Corvallis Rotary Club. John also enjoyed playing bridge, participating in Cycle Oregon and writing his book of memoirs. He was fond of cats, dogs and horses. He enjoyed walking. He was a pun-master. He also loved all babies and kids. His biggest smiles were for them, especially for his numerous great-grandchildren.

He generously provided the extended family with adventures: camping at Wallowa, Ore., a houseboat trip on Lake Roosevelt, horseback riding at Stehekin, ocean fishing....

When nearly ninety, John weathered a laryngectomy, even though he had diabetes and kidney disease. He learned to talk with a “buzzer” but, with a grin and a glint in his eye, he would “buzz-buzz” to say hello, thank you, good job, or just hey you.

John and Evelyn moved to Spokane Valley, and then to Pomeroy to be near family. In August of 2023, the family helped John and Evelyn celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary.

John was 97 when he died at Garfield County Hospital in Pomeroy on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.

John was greatly loved by many and will be sorely missed.

There will be a memorial at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 2, at Richardson-Brown Funeral Home, 750 Columbia St., Pomeroy, and military honors will take place at noon Tuesday, March 5, at the Wenatchee Cemetery. We suggest donations to John’s favorite charity, the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch.