Born June 11, 1933 in Springer, New Mexico to Dick and Vashtie Stevens, Rich was the first of three children raised on a ranch in Chico, New Mexico. In 1946, when a devastating fire left their New Mexico life in ruins, Dick and Tie moved the family to Castle Rock.
At that young age, Rich had helped the other ranch hands move the cattle herd through northern New Mexico and southern Colorado to the Denver stockyards, so the cattle trail to their new home in Castle Rock was a familiar one for him.
Rich met and married his high school sweetheart Pat, in October of 1953. The many friends and family members who visited Rich during his last days are proof of their successful and full life in Castle Rock. Rich won’t be joining the boys for coffee this morning, gathering with the Friday night dinner group or meeting the Saturday morning breakfast group, but all will remember and miss his napkin drawings and his soft spoken, yet salty wit.
During his years in Castle Rock, Rich was involved with many organizations such as the Sheriff’s Posse, Lion’s Club, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Farm Bureau, Cedar Hill Cemetery Board, and the Douglas County Fair Board just to name a few. A talented cartoonist and musician, Rich found humor throughout his life in everything he did and is easily seen in his art and his guitar jamming. His laughter and kindness will ring forever in the hearts of the many people he touched.
Rich met and started a relationship with Jan. They enjoyed traveling and dancing and life for 10 full years.
Rich is preceded in death by his wife, Pat Stevens, two daughters, Terry and Jerry Stevens, his parents, Dick and Tie Stevens, and in-laws Bill and Cecil Fauver, and will be missed greatly by his sisters, Ruth and Dixie Stevens, his daughters, Garry Sanden and Jana Thomas (Todd), grandson, Steven Simon, Jr, (Jenni) granddaughters Mandy Wright-Boyer (Steve), Chrissy Befus (Grant) and Corrie Freese (Chad), great-granddaughters Ashlea Simon, Malia Harris, Kalee Wright, Cobie Freese and Kirby Befus, great-grandsons Brody and Mason Wright, Cale Freese and Cutter Befus, and a great great granddaughter Trinity Aldinger, and will be sadly missed by his lady friend Jan Mauer.
We invite you to join us at a memorial in Rich’s honor on Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 at 10:00 am at the New Hope Presbyterian Church at 3737 New Hope Way, Castle Rock, CO 80109, with interment at Cedar Hill Cemetery, 880 E. Wolfensberger Road In Castle Rock. The family asks you to join them in a celebration of Rich’s life immediately following the service at Kirk Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 500 Fairgrounds Rd, Castle Rock, CO 80104.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to hospice.
PALLBEARERS
Rocky Taylor
Todd Thomas
Steven Simon
Grant Befus
Chad Freese
Wayne Anderson
The family would like to recognize many life-long friends as honorary pallbearers
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