Stephen was born August 7, 1943 in Morenci, Arizona, the son of Filmore and Kathern (Slaughter) Stanton. On February 20, 1982 in Grand Rapids he married Mary (Hallett) Stanton who survives.

Stephen was raised in the small copper mining town of Clifton, Arizona. He was his mother’s beloved only son, and his widower father’s fourth child. Steve revered his older brother Allan, and he loved his sisters Annie and Sandra. In high school, Stephen assisted at his paternal grandfather’s ice plant, worked in his father’s bottling company, and he spent the summers at his maternal grandfather’s “T-Link” cattle ranch. He was a true cowboy. Stephen joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps as a teenager, and he continued as an ROTC cadet throughout his college years at the University of Arizona. In college, he studied animal husbandry and was a popular member of the Delta Chi fraternity. Stephen was also quite the charmer; he loved his ladies, and strutted his stuff as a two-time ‘Pi Phi Man of the Year’ in college. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science, Stephen enrolled in the U.S. Army. Stephen proudly served his country as a commissioned officer in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, rising to the rank of Captain during Vietnam, where his courage earned him the Bronze Star for heroic actions in combat, alongside other distinguished medals and honors.

In college, Stephen met Barbara Longjohn. The two were married in 1966. Barbara is the mother of Stephen’s first two children, David and Patricia (“Pattie”). After his military service, Stephen and Barbara moved to Michigan to be close to the Longjohn family as he launched his post-military life. Stephen began his long and accomplished career in the computer technology field with a job at IBM in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After Stephen and Barbara divorced, he met the love of his life, Mary Hallett.

After the two were married, Stephen and Mary moved to Southfield, Michigan, where their children Emily and Casey were born. In Southfield and later Farmington Hills, they made wonderful friends and enjoyed their children’s many academic and athletic events, family time at the swim club, monthly euchre nights, and overall neighborhood community. Stephen had a passion for running, racquetball, cooking, and taking walks with his cherished dogs. Stephen retired from IBM in 1995 but continued to pursue his talent for technology and built a business in computer training and support, which continued for the rest of his life. Shortly after his retirement, in 1998, Stephen, Mary, Emily and Casey moved to Suttons Bay - “God’s Country,” he called it - to be close to Mary’s mother, Anna Hallett, who still lived in Mary’s childhood home in Omena. Anna loved Stephen - especially when he cooked her Chicken Cordon Bleu - and when he finally mastered euchre to her liking. He was embraced by Mary’s

1943 ~ 2025

big family.

From the moment of his arrival, Stephen immersed himself in this community. The things that always brought him joy included teaching classes, Rotary, computer repair, and being an active member of the church and other organizations. Stephen had many furry friends over the years, and he took great pride in his dogs. He was also an accomplished musician, and he enjoyed singing and playing the guitar at church and community events. Stephen also recently became the Suttons Bay Rotary President and leader of the Suttons Bay Congregational Church Council.

In 2008, Stephen opened Leelanau Computer Repair in Suttons Bay to help customers with their computers and other smart devices. His favorite piece of advice? “Write down your password somewhere you won’t forget it!” Throughout his years as the computer guy in Leelanau County, he shared his technical know-how and his passion for helping out and making friends, and he deepened his connections across the county. With Mary, Stephen made a further impact through his support and involvement with Leelanau Christian Neighbors (LCN).

Stephen and Mary shared a full, rich, and loving life together. They built two homes and travelled the world. They made lifelong friends along the way and cherished them all. Stephen was always supportive in the things that Mary wanted to pursue. They especially enjoyed their time together, reading, entertaining friends and family, walking the beach, and sitting on the deck enjoying a beautiful sunset, often (usually) with a gin martini, straight up.

Next to his wife, Stephen loved family most of all. He doted on his mother, looked up to his father, and he adored his siblings, nieces and nephews, and many wonderful cousins. He taught his children the wisdom of choosing their battles and modeled the values of being kind, approachable, and easy to get along with. He took tremendous joy in his children’s accomplishments, and supported them through their trials and tribulations. David treasures how Dad cheered him on academically and professionally, championed him through several personal ordeals, and how he could look back and laugh at life’s challenges (well, after gritting his teeth and sucking in some air to manage the initial frustration). Pattie will cherish the memory of her father for his deep devotion to family, the joy he found in their shared moments, and the immense pride he took in his lasting legacy. Emily will carry with her the quiet strength of his calming presence, the immense pride and confidence he nurtured in his children and grandchildren, and, of course, his always sharp knives. Casey remembers their camping adventures with the Boy Scouts, Dad standing as his Best Man at his wedding, and the great pleasure he took in his day-to-day encounters.

Stephen was “proud as a peacock” of his eleven grandchildren who will remember him as a teacher, both formally and informally. Formally, Stephen (“Ohn Daddy”, “Granddaddy”) enjoyed sharing stories of their rich family history and offering words of advice from knife skills to technology hacks and mixology. Informally, Ohn Daddy led by example. He was a happy and content man, easy to please and quick to laugh. He was honest and kind, and he cared deeply about his family and community, which are values he has graciously passed down. Stephen was thrilled to be involved in the lives of all eleven grandbabies. He was present for the big life events: soccer games, school dances, graduations, a white coat ceremony, and a doctoral dissertation. Just as importantly, he cherished the smaller moments: listening with genuine interest to every anecdote and conversation no matter the topic, or simply relishing the time spent together. Through his actions and his words, Stephen taught his grandchildren that even the simplest pleasures, like a scoop of vanilla ice cream, are worth celebrating.

Stephen lived a full and happy life and those who knew him enjoyed his big heart, gentle spirit, benevolent presence, easy laugh, and a great sense of humor marked by a wry wit and a fondness for a clever dirty joke. Stephen could always talk to a new person and wanted to find out who they were and what interested them. Whether in Suttons Bay or the streets of Rome, he never met a stranger. His family asks that in remembrance of Stephen you befriend someone new, pet a dog, and write down your passwords!

Stephen is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Mary; four children, David (Kim) Stanton, Pattie (Mark) Dykstra, Emily ( James) Kohler, Casey (Adelaide) Stanton, eleven grandchildren, Charlize and William Stanton, Megan, Katie, Josie and Johnny Dykstra, Hazel, Violet and Wallace Kohler, and August and Margaretta Stanton and his beloved dog, Arizona.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Annie Grant, Allan (Marcia) Stanton and Sandra Clark.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30am on Thursday, September 11th at the Suttons Bay Congregational Church with the family greeting friends at 10:00am. Rev. Dr. Robin Carden will officiate, followed by a celebration of Stephen’s life.

If you would like to make a contribution in Stephen’s honor, Leelanau Christian Neighbors (LCN) would be on the top of his list.

Please share condolences and memories with Stephen’s family at www.martinson. info.

Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.