Steven R. Messenger

Chief Steven R. Messenger USNR, of Billings, MO, went home to be with his Lord, with his loving family by his side at his home, on Saturday, June 17, 2023. Steve was 74 years old. He was born on August 27, 1948, in Lakin, Kansas to Harry and Vada (Robinson) Messenger. He was the oldest of five children in the home.
Steve graduated from Hillcrest High School in Springfield, MO, with the class of 1966. After graduation, he attended SMS. Steve enlisted in the US Navy and two weeks later, on December 21, 1968, he married Janet Taylor. Janet, best known as Jan, and Steve were blessed with two sons, Mark and Robie. Steve spent 20 years with the US Navy. He began his career in boot camp in Great Lakes and was named honor man, he then was in the top five percent of his class in both A and B school in Tennessee, they then were transferred to Corpus Christi, Texas, then to Maryland, Jacksonville, Florida, Hawaii and finally retiring with one last transfer to Corpus Christi. During his military career, Steve was awarded two Navy achievement medals and a Navy commendation medal. After he retired, he became a civilian contractor for the US Navy, as a project manager, continuing the work he did while enlisted. While he was a civilian contractor, Steve, independently of his work with the Navy, designed touch screen computers that were placed in kiosks in hotels throughout the Corpus Christi area, allowing travelers to independently find sightseeing destinations and receive discounts that could be printed out. After he left his project manager position, he then went on to own and operate a company called Unicomp, also in Corpus Christi, which designed, built, and installed computer systems for several lawyers, doctors, and other businesses. Steve was a very talented individual that wasn't limited to computers. Steve and his family relocated to Missouri in 1997, to be closer to family. They began building their own home and in August of 1999 they settled down in Billings. Steve also owned and operated several other companies; M&S Ducting, where he, Jan and their son Mark designed and installed duct work in both residential and commercial buildings. Later, along with their son Robie, they owned and operated Messenger Plumbing, Steve was the financial half, keeping the books, and doing most of the logistics and scheduling while Robie did the installation and the hands-on work. Steve didn't stop there, he also worked full time for Chase Card Services in Springfield, MO for 20 years in the IT Department.
He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers-in-law, Donald Richardson, and Vic Brown.
Steve is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Jan, son Mark Messenger and wife Amber and their two children Allie and Averie, and Robie Messenger and his three children Madison, Savanah and Britain and one great grandson, Kane, siblings: Jeffrey (Wanda) Messenger, Linda Richardson, Terry (Gary) Erwin and Cheryl Brown as well as a host of nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to American Cancer Society Pancreatic C/O Pancreatic Cancer Research P.O. Box 6704 Hagerstown, MD. 21741 or at www.donate.cancer.org.
A Graveside service will be held on Monday, June 26, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield with Pastor Lee Miller officiating. Steve will be rewarded with full military honors, for his 20 years of honorable service to his country.
Fair Winds and Following Seas ~ TDC Messenger.