Stephen Alston Wilson, beloved Husband, Father and Gramps, passed away peacefully at his home in Kalispell, Montana on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 with his loving wife and children at his side. He was born on September 7, 1937 in El Paso, Texas to Mildred and Howard C. Wilson, and was the youngest of four children.
When Steve was four years old, his family moved from Texas to Salmon, Idaho and then to a small mountain ranch on the Salmon River near Shoup. He attended high school in Spokane, Washington and graduated from Spokane High School in 1955. Soon after starting college at the University of Idaho in Moscow, he received his draft notice and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served honorably for four years. After leaving the service, Steve settled in Great Falls, Montana, where he began what would become a lifetime of successful entrepreneurial ventures in business, agriculture, real estate, and property management. It was in Great Falls that he met and married his soul mate for life, Cheryl Anne Fisher. They were married on April 4, 1965 and together they raised three children, and were blessed with fifty-two wonderful years of marriage. The family moved from Great Falls to Fort Shaw in 1973, to the Gallatin Valley in 1978, and then to Kalispell in 1990. In addition to his business interests, Steve was active in many professional and civic organizations in Great Falls, Bozeman, and Kalispell, including the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, Optimist Club, Elks, Masonic Order, Scottish Rite, and Algeria Shrine. He served on several Presbyterian and Lutheran church councils, and participated in the Stephen Ministry.
A man of great determination, wisdom, and integrity, Steve’s legacy of love, faith, service, and devotion to his family will be passed on for generations. He cherished his children and grandchildren, and one of his greatest pleasures was the joy of family gatherings. Steve will be remembered for his strength of character, generosity, and tremendous work ethic; and for always giving “The Old Boy Upstairs” the credit for his many blessings. He loved the Lord, his family and his country…and had a great appreciation for a fine mule, and a good bottle of Scotch.
Steve is survived by his wife, Cheryl; daughter Janey and her husband Dan Salomon of Ronan and their daughters, Christa (Mike) Schallock, Kelsey (Alan) Skogen and Katie (Trenton) Harding; daughter Jody Beth and her husband Mike White of Kalispell and their children, Michael (Stacey), Marcy, Mitchell (Julia), Monte and Monica; son Jeff and his wife Lauri of Kalispell and their children McKenna, Greg and Georgia; ten great grandchildren; his sister, Jane and her husband Ray Beasley of Helena, Montana; his parents-in-law Lowell and Mary Fisher of Mesa, Arizona; and a host of treasured nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Howard, and sister, Bernice.
At Steve’s request, there will be no formal service. He asked that family and friends gather and have a party to celebrate his life. The details for this will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Steve’s honor may be made to charities that benefit the people and critters of the Flathead Valley.