Stephen Stokes

Stephen Wayne Stokes passed away July 1, 2016, at EIRMC following post-surgery complications. He was born in Salmon, Idaho, on Oct. 1, 1948, to Robert and Katheryne Stokes.
Steve graduated from Salmon High School in 1966. He attended Ricks College before serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Cumorah New York mission 1967-1969. Following his mission he married the love of his life Susan Weeks in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple in 1971. They have been married 45 years.
They moved to Boise to attend BSU, and he graduated in 1973. While there, their first child, Yvette, was born.
Steve taught high school in Leadore, Idaho, for 14 years, was athletic director, coached basketball and cross-country and taught early-morning seminary. During the summers he operated heavy equipment and drove truck. In 1976 he drove his own truck to help with the Teton Dam cleanup. Steve and Susan had two more children, Jared and Joli, while living in Leadore. While in Leadore, he served on the city council and as mayor and was a volunteer EMT.
In 1988 he moved his wife and three kids to Pocatello, Idaho, to earn his doctorate in political science from ISU. In 1990 he moved to Ottumwa, Iowa to teach at Indian Hills Community College. Shortly after, he accepted his dream job teaching at Ricks College. He lived in the Rexburg area the rest of his life and was blessed with three more children, Tessa, Taylor and Sam.
While at Ricks he served as department chair of the Sociology and Criminal Justice Department, assisting in the transition to Brigham Young University-Idaho. Steve has received the Master Teacher awards. With the Inner City Youth Charitable Foundation in Chicago he established the associated Urban Studies program. As chairman of the International Studies program he had the opportunity to travel to Europe, Israel, Egypt, China, Tonga, etc.
Steve loved the gospel of Jesus Christ. He served in bishoprics, on the high councils of the Salmon and Rexburg South Stakes, as ward mission leader, in Young Men presidencies, in Scouts, as high priest group leader and as a temple worker at the Rexburg LDS temple.
He enjoyed being in the outdoors. He was in awe of the beauty of the earth around him and shared his appreciation with his children.
Steve Stokes was a man that loved all and was loved by all. His sincere smile and genuine interest in others lifted and inspired everyone around him. His greatest joy in life was spending time with his family and playing with his grandkids. He also loved teaching and counseling his students in academics and life. He never passed by an opportunity to help others.
Steve is survived by his wife, Susan; children, Yvette Putnam (Jacob), Jared Stokes (Emillee), Joli Young (Robert), Tessa Wiltse (Joshua), Taylor and Sam Stokes; his mother, Katheryne, his siblings Heber (Jean), Jed, Kathy Thomas (Kim) and Tammy Miller (Rick). He is also survived by Joshua, McKayla, Blythe (Putnam), Jackson, Orion, Wynne (Stokes), Jessica, Ashley, Livia, William (Young) and Annalynn (Wiltse).
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert; his brother Ralph Stokes; his brother-in-law Craig Keirns; his sister-in-law Donna Stokes (Jed); and his granddaughter Annee Stokes.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 9, at the Rexburg South Stake Center, 2041 W. 5200 S., in Rexburg. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30-10:45 a.m., both times at the stake center. Interment will be in the Sutton Cemetery under the direction of Flamm Funeral Home. Condolences can be sent to the family online at http://www.flammfh.com.