TORRINGTON – A Celebration of Life for Roger Eugene Steben, 89, will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, November 23, 2024 at the First Wyoming United Presbyterian Church, Torrington.
Roger peacefully passed away at Goshen Healthcare Community on November 12, 2024 and cremation has taken place. Memorial contributions in honor of Roger will be used to create an Agriculture Scholarship at EWC.
Roger was born January 2, 1935 at home on the farm North of Mitchell, Nebraska, the son of Jake and Katheryn (Sommer) Steben. At the age of 3, Roger’s family moved to Lingle, where he later attended Lingle Elementary until the 6 th grade. In 1947 the Steben family moved to the Stephenson farm and Roger graduated from Torrington High School in 1952. Roger went on to attend the University of Nebraska and Southeast University Center in Torrington where he met the love of his life, Shirley Pursley. The couple was married June 27, 1954 in Torrington.
Roger and Shirley raised their family and farmed in the Torrington and Huntley area for the next 55 years. Retiring in 2000, they moved to Torrington and Roger continued to drive out to the farm at Huntley to supervise farming operations of his sons Randy and Mike. Throughout his life Roger enjoyed fishing, hunting, pack trips with family and friends into Yellowstone and brought home a bear skin from a hunt in Canada. Roger was a certified pilot and purchased his Piper Super Cub plane in 1977.
Roger also enjoyed snowmobiling in Medicine Bow and the Black Hills. He had many horses which he spent a lot of time riding and moving cattle on his ranch as well as daughter Sandra and Artie’s ranch. Roger was known to like only two kinds of pie – hot and cold. All his grandchildren were initiated into working on the farm, fishing with piggyback rides across the river, and another favorite of his - ice cream. Always active in his community, Roger was a member of the Wyoming and Goshen County Stockgrowers Associations. He served on the Huntley School Board, Board of Eastern Wyoming College, and the Board of Torrington Community Hospital. He was a Session Member at the Huntley, South Goshen, and First Wyoming United Presbyterian Churches. Roger was named Outstanding Young Farmer for Wyoming in 1969. He was a 4-H Livestock Leader, member of the Sugar Beet Growers Association and North Platte Valley Feeders.
Roger is survived by Shirley, his wife of 70 years and their children: son Randy Steben (Twila), daughter Sandra Johnson, son Michael Steben (Charlotte). Grandchildren: Tyrell Steben, Roxanne Jolovich (Michael), Shannon Baldwin (Jason), Will Johnson, Taylor Johnson (Breanne), Trenton Johnson, Jake Steben (Hunter) and Blake Steben. Nine great-grandchildren, his sister Gwen Miller as well as nieces and nephews. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, sister Jackie Morris, and son-in-law Artie Johnson.
