Stephen Bennion Nebeker died August 19 after a valiant fight with Parkinson's Disease. He was born in Salt Lake City, the second son of Lora Bennion Nebeker and Hulme Nebeker. He had an older brother, Richard and a younger brother Howard.
As a child living on Yale Avenue, he spent days in the near-by gully where the "gully rats" swam in the stream, fished and engineered zip-lines. He attended Uintah, Roosevelt, and East High School. In the summers he worked for his grandfather Hyrum on the Bear Lake Ranch haying, herding sheep and rounding up cattle. He also spent time working in the kitchen and garden with Grandma Myra, with whom he was especially close.
Steve was an integral part of the Bear Lake legacy established on the east side by Nebeker ancestors in 1870. That turquoise lake and surrounding green farmland at North Eden was a place where he worked as a youngster and played as an adult. It was here he taught his family how to fish, hunt and waterski. All his progeny feel this same love for the "wild" side of Bear Lake.
In 1947, he got a job as a Bell Hop at Jenny Lake Ranch where he climbed the Grand Teton, swam, and hiked. He danced and dated a waitress named June Wilkins, also working at Jenny Lake. Steve had taken June to a noonday dance at East High when he was 15.
Steve was an accomplished skier and at 16, won the Intermountain Four Way Combined Ski Meet, which combined the downhill, cross country, and slalom races with ski jumping. When he started at the University of Utah in 1947, he was thrilled to be on the U's Ski Team.
He pledged Sigma Chi and then served a Mission in Liverpool England. Several of his Sigma Chi Brothers served at the same time, later forming the Latter-Day Sigs, a group that met for over 65 years.
A devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he enjoyed serving in two Bishoprics, and as a Bishop of a Singles' Ward. His faith permeated every aspect of his life.
He married his sweetheart, June, in the Salt Lake Temple in 1951 and started Law School at the U. He graduated in 1954 and was a member of the Board of Editors of The University of Utah Law Review.
He received a Commission in the U.S. Army through the ROTC and moved June, and two- year-old daughter Jeanne to Georgia, where daughter Mary was born.
In 1957, the Nebekers moved back to Salt Lake and added children Stephen and Annie. Steve joined the law firm Ray, Quinney and Nebeker where he practiced law as a defense trial attorney until retirement in 2001. He was named Lawyer of the Year by the Utah State Bar. He was honored to be a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers; he was the first Utahan to serve as a Regent. Despite his professional success, he still remained courteous and kind to everyone. He felt privileged to work with those who were part of the law practice—his partners, Cheryl, his secretary for over 40 years, judges, and other lawyers.
Steve has always been a devoted Ute. He served on the Board of the Alumni Association and as its President, and also as a member of the U of U National Advisory Council, serving as its Chair. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the U.
Steve loved to spend time with June and his family, skiing at Alta or Park City, boating at Bear Lake, and enjoying Shakespeare at Cedar City. June and Steve shared the joy of welcoming grandchildren and great grandchildren into the family. He was a proud member of two men's lunch groups: the Bears (lawyers who discussed how they got mauled in court) and the Dirty Shirts.
Steve remained intellectually curious and engaged with current events until the end of his life. He and June loved attending the Utah Symphony, plays at local theaters, and studying art and architecture the world over.
Steve is survived by his wife, June Wilkins Nebeker, his children and their spouses: Jeanne and Jim Jardine, Mary and Brent Larson, Stephen and Holly Nebeker and Annie and Gary Christensen, 11 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.
A visitation will be held at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South from 6-8 pm on Tuesday, August 28. A Memorial Service starting at noon, Wednesday, August 29 will be held at Emigration 6th Ward, 589 East 18th Avenue.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Utah School of Music or the S.J. and Jesse E. Quinney School of Law at the University of Utah.