Stephen Glenn Buck

BURLEY – Stephen Glenn Buck returned home to his Heavenly Father on Jan. 26, 2017, in Boise, Idaho, after suffering valiantly through ill health for 20 years without complaint or bitterness. He was 74 years old.

Stephen was born Feb. 2, 1942, in Logan, Utah, the second child of Charles Glenn Buck and Ruby Dott Webb. His siblings are Ferrell Buck (Richard Terry) and Don Lyle Buck (Lane Alexander); he was preceded in death by his brother, Larry Ray Buck (Stella Ballesteros).

Stephen’s life was characterized by a love of God and his fellow man. He was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 4, 1950, in Los Angeles, California. A bit of a prankster as a boy, Stephen grew up in East Los Angeles, where he attended Garfield High School. He loved exploring, hiking, fishing, and going out to the California desert with his brothers and friends. In March 1962, he was called to serve an LDS mission for the Church in the Gulf States Mission where he was made a district leader. Afterward, he served in the United States Army Medical Corps for six years as an x-ray technician and received recognition as a sharpshooter. Then, in 1966, Stephen met the great love of his life, Tanya Rae Willson-Bluemel, at an East Los Angeles Stake dance. They married in the Los Angeles California LDS Temple on March 29, 1968, and remained best friends throughout their almost 50 years of marriage.

He began his career after graduating from Los Angeles Business College, in the JCPenney management program. After the birth of their first child, their little family left Southern California to work in Idaho Falls. Penneys moved their growing family all over Idaho. In 1975, he was made store manager for the Rupert store. After one more transfer to Twin Falls, they decided to make a permanent home in Southern Idaho. In 1980, Stephen began working for the LDS Church, managing the new Deseret Industries Store in Burley, where the family has remained for 37 years. Once settled in Burley, Stephen never wanted to leave. He loved being an Idahoan.

Stephen’s 23 years at D.I. made evident an essential part of his character; compassion and charity. He served faithfully in many church callings. He was the first bishop of the Burley Tenth Ward, beginning in 1981. In Burley, Stephen also served as a transient bishop and as a chaplain for the Cassia County Sheriff Department. His children cherish memories of the love their father always showed to people who needed help. He left a great legacy of humanitarian service and love.

Stephen and Tanya raised a family of five girls: Tamara Lynne, Carol Anne Garcia [Tony], Heather Marie Hullinger [Jeff], Angela Gail Larson [Teancum], and Holly Janelle George [Rick]. He loved outdoor activities; fishing, hiking, and exploring; something he passed on to his girls. They were regular visitors to Alturas and Redfish Lakes. He had a goofy sense of humor that made family life a joy.

Stephen had a keen mind and a nearly photographic memory. His knowledge of the scriptures was thorough and he spent many hours studying. He could freely quote chapter and verse on almost any topic—and he passed a love of this learning and study onto his children and grandchildren. He was very proud to be a husband, father and grandfather. Once his own children were grown, he and Tanya planned many vacations with their grandchildren. He was always delighted with their personalities. He is survived by his wife and children; 14 grandchildren; and three-and-a-half great-grandkids.

A funeral service in his honor will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Burley LDS 2nd and 4th Ward Church, 515 E. 16th St., in Burley, with Bishop Adam Haynes conducting. Military rites will be accorded by the Mini-Cassia Veterans Organization. Burial will follow at the Pleasant View Cemetery in Burley.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Saturday, preceding the service at the church.