Steven Thomas Rademaker

Our family is heartbroken to share with you that our beloved "Griz," Steven Thomas Rademaker, 57, passed away on Dec. 8, 2014.

Steve was born in Denver to Thomas and Patricia Rademaker on March 18, 1957. He grew up in Lewistown, in the heart of Montana, and graduated from Fergus County High School. Steve graduated from the University of Montana in 1979 and the Western Montana Center of Medical Technology in Missoula in 1980. Steve was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Steve began his medical career high in the mountains of Colorado at St. Vincent Hospital in Leadville, where he loved to hike the highest peaks and skied to his heart's content for 11 years. Steve married his high school sweetheart, Susan, in 1981 and in 1990, they had a son, Nikolas Steven. The family eventually moved to Spokane, Wash., where Steve managed hospital laboratories for Valley Hospital, Shriner's Hospital for Children and Providence Holy Family for more than 20 years. Steve moved home to Kalispell, his "healing place," in the late summer of 2011 and worked as the Laboratory Director for Kalispell Regional Medical Center. He loved every minute he spent working at the hospital and playing in the Flathead Valley!

Steve had a passion for sports and excelled at them. He was an incredible athlete, who could endure chemo and still ride his bike up Logan Pass in Glacier Park with great friends! Steve was even able to finish The Summit's "80-mile swim around Flathead Lake," in 2014. Steve was a finisher in the "2011 Coeur D'Alene Iron Man" and past winner of Spokane's "Hoopfest." He loved the water and his favorite time was spent boating and camping each year on Kalispell Island at Priest Lake with family and friends. Steve was crazy about his grandchildren and savored the time he spent with them. He loved his University of Montana Grizzlies, his cowboy boots and his labs, Rocket and Breaker.

Steve thought highly of life and was truly "golden." In the end, we were left with his essence: a radiant smile, an optimistic attitude and an instinctive kindness.

Steve was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia Rademaker. He is survived by his wife, Susan; son Nikolas; daughter-in-law Elizabeth; and grandsons Landon and Steven Rademaker. Steve is also survived by his father, Thomas Rademaker (wife Joyce); siblings Karen Simpson (husband Joe), Mike Rademaker (wife, Marge) and David Rademaker (wife Shauna); and nine nieces and nephews, Janelle, Mark and David Simpson, Jayden and Caleb Rademaker, Carmel Chapa, Brooke Rose McGuire and Amanda and Angela Andrikopoulos.

Oh … and Steve, "URTBO" (You are the BEST one!).

Funeral Services were on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the First Presbyterian Church in Kalispell, where we bowed our heads not in sorrow, but in the deepest of gratitude for having known this wonderful man.

If desired, donations can be sent to the KRH Foundation, 310 Sunnyview Lane in Kalispell, 59901, Attn: "Steve's Healing Place," where a bench will be placed outside The Rock Building for patients and family to sit and heal while gazing at the Peaks of Glacier National Park.