Stephen Crain

Stephen E. Crain of Alpine passed away peacefully on the morning of July 13, 2022 after battling lymphoma for several months. He was a people person who lived a life full of love, faith, and adventure and he will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Stephen came into this world kicking and screaming on August 12, 1949 in Harrison, Arkansas to Robert and Doris Crain and was the oldest of the six Crain children. Steve was raised in Oklahoma City and at 13 years old showed his ambition when he became one of the youngest Eagle Scouts in Oklahoma history. As a student at US Grant High School, Steve played baseball and basketball and was a consistent honor roll student.

He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 17, which greatly affected many of his future life choices. Upon graduating from high school, Steve attended the University of Oklahoma where he was the student manager for the football team. After his freshman year, he submitted his papers to serve a church mission. He was called to serve in tropical Tahiti, but had his mission call changed to the frigid climes of Montreal, Canada {in December} while he was still learning French. He accepted the change and traded in his suitcase full of short-sleeve shirts for woolen gear. His mission strengthened his devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ and began his life-long love of missionary work, learning foreign languages, and using Quebecois lingo we didn't understand.

After Steve's mission, he transferred from OU to Brigham Young University where he met Rosanna Hepworth from Grover, Wyoming while they worked together as early morning janitors on campus. After a short courtship and engagement, they were married in 1972 in the Idaho Falls temple. Together, they began a nearly 50-year journey together that neither of them could imagine at the time. At BYU, Steve received Bachelor's degrees in Russian and French and then an MBA. They had eight children, none of whom inherited his obsession with Mountain Dew and Taco Bell, but all of whom would follow in his footsteps by graduating from BYU. During his days at BYU, he became an avid supporter of the football and basketball programs. For the remainder of his life, he eagerly looked forward to both BYU and OU's football seasons, and you could tell how his teams were doing based on his mood on game days. Even his casket is true BYU blue!

Steve was an adventurer with a streak of wanderlust that ran deep in his soul. He served for several years in the US Army, bringing his young family on adventures to California, Texas, and Germany. Later he brought his family to live in mostly frigid locations - Iowa, Minnesota, Russia, Oklahoma, Utah, and eventually Paris, France where he served a mission with his sweetheart. Through his career and personal trips, he traveled to 65 countries and every continent except Antarctica; he also became fluent in French and Russian and could get by in several other languages. He felt deeply that the world was meant to be explored and there were friends to be made wherever he went. He made sure his children were well traveled by the time they left home and they have continued in his legacy of exploring and doing good in the world.

Anyone who knew Steve knows that he was very committed to his family. He not only made a point to show up to every activity his children participated in, but he also bent over backwards to make sure he came to his grandchildren's important events as well, even when he lived across the country from them. He was fiercely proud of his children and grandchildren's accomplishments and often bragged about them to friends and strangers alike.

Steve was deeply devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ and served faithfully in many callings throughout his life, including Bishop of the Blaine Ward in Minnesota. He dreamed about serving a mission with his wife as a senior couple his entire married life. Finally, despite several obstacles, including health issues, they were able to serve in the France, Paris mission from 2019-2021. They loved their time together there, especially getting to know the other senior couples and young missionaries. We are grateful for his example and legacy of faith and service.

Steve was the epitome of a people person. He loved connecting with people and making them laugh, which often included pulling good-humored pranks and surprises on his family and friends. We pulled up unannounced to old friends' houses on almost every road trip, and if they weren't home, he'd make sure to call them and catch up later. His desire to connect with people even extended to strangers. He was known to roll down his windows at stoplights and start conversations with drivers of other cars based on someone's license plate or bumper sticker. He made friends with anyone who crossed his path, even if it was just a momentary meeting in a grocery line or trying to set up a grandchild with a cute cashier in a drive-through.

Lest we painted too rosy a picture of our Dad, we'll just close this out by saying that there was no one better at annoying and embarrassing us kids, but even with his flaws, we never doubted that he loved us deeply. He will be missed dearly.

WE LOVE YOU, DAD!!

Steve was preceded in death by his father, Robert Crain. He is survived by his wife Rosanna Crain; his mother Doris Crain; two sisters - Sandy Anderson (Chris) and Sherri Dewey (Mike); three brothers - George (Debra), Robert (Mary), and Michael (Stephanie); four daughters - Lara Goold (Glen), Kristina King (Thomas), Heather Crain, and AnnaLisa Crain; four sons - Nate, Peter (Mika), Matt (Karey), and Tim; eighteen grandchildren - Spencer, Cami, Emma, Adam, Ellie, Andrew, Madeline, Manuel, Isaiah, Jesus, Lauren, McKenzie, Bridgette, Davin, Lincoln, Jack, Ben, and Anna; one great-granddaughter, Lucie May; an aunt, cousins, and many nieces and nephews.

Two viewings will be held:

1. Monday, July 18, 2022 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Anderson and Sons (6141 W. 11000 N., Highland, Utah)

2. Tuesday, July 19, 2022 from 10:00-10:45 am (before the funeral) at the Mountainville Building of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Red Brick Church) (165 N. 100 E., Alpine, Utah).

Funeral services:

Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at 11:00am at the Mountainville Building of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Red Brick Church) (165 N. 100 E., Alpine, Utah).

Please sit down with an ice-cold Mountain Dew in hand and send your favorite memories of Steve and well wishes to stevecrainlove@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Steve's name to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society https://lls.org to the Church Humanitarian Fund https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org or to a charity of your choice.

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