Donald Leland Stevens

Donald L. Stevens "He was a good man" Donald Leland Stevens, beloved by family and friends, died peacefully at home in Taylorsville, Utah on December 6, 2014. He was 84 years old.Don was born on January 4, 1929 in Evanston, Wyoming, the eighth of nine children of Leland H. Stevens and Myrtle Ann Tuttle. The Stevens family always enjoyed sports. Don and his brothers played on several winning football and basketball teams for Evanston High School, where Don served as the student body president, 1946-1947. At the University of Utah, Don played football for Coach Ike Armstrong, participated in track, and graduated in 1954 with a degree in business. He served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War, 1951-1953, both on the front lines and at Pearl Harbor. Don was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On June 25, 1951, he married Mayre Beth Nielsen in the Salt Lake Temple, and they became the parents of six children. While living in Ogden, Utah, he was called as the scoutmaster for a troop of 28 scouts, and then as the bishop of the 73rd Ward of the Weber Heights Stake. It pleased him when most of the young men went on to become Eagle Scouts and serve LDS missions. The Stevens family settled in the Federal Heights area of Salt Lake City. As a businessman, Don worked in the securities industry for nearly 30 years, becoming the manager and vice president of companies such as Thomson McKinnon, E.F. Hutton and Boettcher. He served his clients well and was respected for his integrity and insight. He devoted himself to making the world a better place. After a divorce, Don married Paulette Flandro Pope on November 27, 1992 and helped to provide a stable environment for her seven children. For several years, they lived in his hometown of Evanston, a place he loved. He encouraged economic development and served on the board of the Community Foundation for Uinta County. Always a quiet, kind and gentle man, Don loved his family and friends and was a sweet influence in many lives. We are honored to have known him. Preceding him in death were his mother, father and siblings, Marge Stevens, Esther McGarry, Bill Stevens, Dick Stevens, Tally Stevens, Howard Stevens, and Don's twin brother, Ron Stevens. His youngest sister, Carma (Gil) Pedersen, still resides in Holladay. His step-son, Michael Pope, also preceded him in death.Don is survived by his six children, Scott (Mindi) Stevens, Pam (Doug) Bedke, Bob (Debbie) Stevens, John (Marci) Stevens, Mayre Ann (Stephan) Frantz and Steven (Melanie) Stevens, 26 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his wife, Paulette, six step-children, Jacob (Charlene) Pope, Eliza (Matthew) D'Alessandro, Erin (John) Beesley, David Pope, Miriam (Steve, fiance) Barth, and Rachel (Levi) Hagemann, and eleven step-grandchildren. The family expresses appreciation to the staff of the Veterans Administration Medical Center fot years of fine care and to Affinity Hospice. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Don Stevens Memorial at the Life Story Library Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by Paulette Stevenswww.lifestorylibrary.org. Funeral services will take place on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. in the Taylorsville 19th Ward, 2030 West Chateau Avenue (5225 South) in Taylorsville. A viewing will be held at the church prior to the services, 9:30-10:40 a.m., and on Monday evening from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road in Taylorsville. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 South Highland Drive in Salt Lake City. Place of Birth:Evanston, WyomingPlace of Death:Taylorsville, UtahOccupation:Vice President