Ralph B. Stever, Jr. 61, of Troy
Obit Stever
Ralph B. Stever, Jr., 61, died Jan 18, 2012 peacefully at home surrounded by his family.
Ralph was born Sept. 24, 1950, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Ralph and Ruth Stever.
After high school graduation he became a permanent Montanan, living and working throughout the state. He married Cathy Davis in 1971 and had two children: Dawn and Skyler.
On Aug. 3, 1993, he married Joan Christiansen on the ocean cliffs at Depoe Bay, Ore. They had two children: Azure and Jaymin. Ralph completed his BS at the University of Great Falls as well as some masters course work, studying human services and counseling.
Ralph and Joan moved to Troy in 1996, and he worked as a chemical dependency counselor at RNW and Flathead Valley CDC. Later, he ran the afterschool program at the Troy schools. ?
He enjoyed organizing community events which included bringing Chautauqua Traveling Circus to Troy, developing the Timberbeast FOLF course with an annual tournament, organizing the Kootenai Bluegrass Festival and helped establish the local community radio station KVRZ.
Ralph’s great joy was bringing the community together for a fun-filled time.
Ralph also enjoyed sitting around the campfire and playing music with friends and family. His voice will be truly missed. ?
Survivors include his wife, Joan and daughter Azure and son Jaymin of Troy; son Skyler Stever and wife, Jennifer of Gresham, Ore., daughter Dawn Lyga and husband, Mark of Whitefish.
Also surviving are three brothers: Chuck Stever and wife Joyce of Chester, N.Y.; Richard Stever and wife, Jowanna, of Vancouver, Wash., and Jonathan Stever of Chester, N.Y.
Seven grandchildren also survive. They include Caleb, Darren, Briana, Matthew, Emily, Ocean and Sage; one great-grandchild, Carter; two nieces Heather and Kelly and one nephew, Travis.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Ralph Stever.
A celebration of Ralph’s life will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012, at the J & J Bed and Breakfast, 16995 U.S. Highway 2, at the junction of Highway 56 and 2 on the top of the hill east of Troy.
In memoriam of Ralph, donations could be sent to KVRZ radio station in Libby, 108 East 4th Street, Suite 204, Libby, Mont., 59923.