Glenn Stephens, age 94 of St. Onge, went home to heaven with his loving family by his side at his home on Friday, February 9, 2024.
The funeral service was held Thursday, February 15, 2024 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Belle Fourche. Visitation took place Wednesday, February 14 at Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. Ashes will be spread on the family ranch.
Glenn’s funeral service can be viewed live or following the service, from his obituary page located on the funeral home’s website: www.LeveringtonFH.com
Memorials will be used for the United Church of Christ in Belle Fourche and St. Onge Cemetery.
Glenn Stephens was born June 1, 1929 in Deadwood. He was the son of Thomas and Marvel (Derosier) Stephens. Glenn grew up on the Stephens ranch near St. Onge until 1935 when the family moved to Lead. Glenn graduated from Lead High School in 1947 and attended Black Hills State Teachers College for one year. In 1949, Glenn moved back to the family farm. He was united in marriage to Dona Fae Twombley on July 22, 1949. Glenn and Dona met while they were ice-skating with friends at a nearby stock dam. To this union five children were born: Mia, Randy, Devin, Marci, and Harlan. Glenn was in the dairy business for 30 years, selling milk to Black Hills Milk Producers for which he served on the board of directors for 18 years. Glenn also served on the Dairy Herd Improvement Association and was a member of the St. Onge Fire Department for 45 years. He was also a member of the First Congregational UCC Church in Belle Fourche and the St. Onge Community Club. In 1960 he received the Lawrence County Outstanding Young Farmer award and in 2021 the Lawrence County Conservation District Conservation Citizenship Award. Glenn’s passions included farming, traveling, and wood-working. Glenn and his father planted all the trees at Foothills Ranch. He loved gardening and once had a garden that was as big as his house.
Glenn remembered his first jobs in life started when he was just 9-years-old. His first was cutting hay with a five foot mower, pulled behind a team of horses for Gramp Derosier. When he was 10-years-old he led the “stacker horse” when piling loose hay on the ranch. He said the horses often knew more than he did when it came to those jobs. When he was 12 he started a newspaper route and used his first paycheck to buy a pair of snowshoes. At 14, he milked cows in the summer months for his teacher, Mrs. Kirtland, and at 15 he had a job changing tires.
Glenn is survived by his children: Mia (Ali) Taherkhah of Colorado Springs, CO; Devin (Joann) of St. Onge; Marci (Larry) Dickson of Roanoke VA; Harlan (Bonnie) of Rapid City; 7 grandchildren: Nate Daniels-Stephens, Lauren Stephens Rahim, Jack Dickson, Megan Dickson, Denton Stephens, Mackenzie Stephens, Drew Stephens; and 3 great-grandchildren: Gray Dickson, Reid Stephens, and Waylon Bishop. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dona; infant son, Randy; his parents; and sisters, Donna Riley and Shirley Foos.
