Stephen Marx

Stephen E Marx passed away on November 1, 2025, at Henry’s Lake in Island Park, Idaho in a tragic drowning accident. He was fishing with his longtime friend, James Morey, who also lost his life. They had been friends for close to 30 years. Stephen was 64 years old.

Stephen was born on August 10, 1961, to Ronald and Marva Marx in Salt Lake City, Utah. Growing up he loved to be outside and often recalled that he would never be inside when he could be doing something outside. Stephen earned his Eagle Scout at the age of 14, as part of a lifelong love of Scouting. He also loved wrestling, and always placed well. Stephen graduated from Granite High School in 1979.

Stephen served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Coventry England. There, he developed a love of Great Britain.

Upon returning home, Stephen attended Utah State University, where he met his sweet wife Ynette. He then transferred to the University of Utah where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1988.

They were married and sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on December 30, 1985, they were due to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary next month. They raised two wonderful sons together.

Stephen worked for Bonneville Power Administration as a District Field Engineer for 37 years before his passing. His districts were Olympia, Washington, Klamath Falls, Oregon, and Idaho Falls, Idaho. He loved his job, and enjoyed working in the rural areas where he often saw wildlife as he traveled to substations.

A brilliant man, Stephen published many academic papers with colleagues from multiple organizations. He was a favorite teacher and presenter at many industry conferences and workshops. Among his many accomplishments was his work on the Traveling Wave theory, in which he collaborated with industry leaders to narrow the range of fault detection from several miles down to a single tower.

Stephen, being a lifelong follower of Jesus Christ, served in many positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including as a bishopric member, high counselor (where he organized trek for his stake and was the wagon master), Young Men's president, Stake Young Men's Presidency, Sunday school teacher, activities days leader, and scoutmaster. He loved his scouting years where he served for more than 20 years. He left an impact on their lives, helping them to grow and achieve success. He loved them and they have enjoyed a trusted bond. In recognition of his work, among other accolades, he was awarded the Silver Beaver and the District Award of Merit. He helped many of his young men earn their own Eagle Scout Award. He gave them an example of being an honorable and capable man, and of someone who tried to do what was right. They also had adventures, like building snow caves, 50-mile hikes, biking in the redwoods, and summiting many mountains. He followed the slogan “Do a good turn daily” and taught his young men service.

He grew up hunting and fishing with his dad, brothers, and extended family. His love of the outdoors was something that stayed with him throughout his life. He loved hiking, hunting, fishing, huckleberry picking, water skiing, wolf watching, and generally doing anything in nature. He also loved yoga. He was an ardent believer of that old saying “a bad day fishing (or hunting) was better than a great day at work.” For the last several years, he regularly went fishing by himself or with friends and family, and likely spent thousands of hours fishing on the very lake that eventually claimed his life.

Stephen was a firm believer and defender of the Scout Motto, “Be Prepared.” Stephen usually had extra supplies and tools in case of an emergency, and made sure that those around him knew how to do things safely before he would start.

He was a faithful member of the Church and often expressed his love for the gospel and his Savior Jesus Christ. Tying his love of the outdoors, helping others, and serving his Savior, was something he strove to teach his young men. One of his sayings was “It’s easier to stay warm than to get warm, it’s easier to stay dry than to get dry, and it’s easier to stay close to God than to get back close to God.”

Stephen loved his family. He raised two honorable and worthy boys, and loved to recount that almost everything he did was to help them grow up to be everything they could be. He would say “I am not raising chickens, I am raising boys.” He rarely missed sporting events or academic performances throughout all of the years that his boys were in school. He was proud of the men that they grew to be, and overjoyed to see the fathers that they became in their own right. As he got older, he said that all of his favorite adventures over the last several years were with his grandkids.

Always congenial and quick with a joke, Stephen made friends whenever he went, and will be truly missed by those who knew him. Stephen was funny and hard working, and he helped friends and strangers without hesitation. Those who knew him, knew he could always be counted on. Overall, he was someone you were better for knowing.

Stephen is survived by his two sons and their wives, Jacob and Kimberly Marx, and Joshua and Nanette Marx, his grandchildren Kalia, Brinley, Benji, and Damien, as well as his mother Marva, and his siblings and their spouses, Craig and DeeAnn Marx, Lori and Clay Christensen, and Douglas and Jeanette Marx. He was preceded in death by his father Ronald Marx. He also leaves behind an aunt, cousins, nieces and nephews, and many others who loved him and will miss him greatly.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 24th at 10 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 3153 S 900 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84106. There will be time for visitation on Sunday, November 23rd from 6-8pm, and 9-9:45am on Monday the 24th before his funeral. Stephen will be interred at the Manti City Cemetery. Funeral services are being handled by Larkin Mortuary. There will be a zoom link, and a live YouTube stream for those who are not able to join in person.

The family is eternally grateful to the Fremont, Bingham and Bonneville Counties Search and Rescue units and Idaho State and Teton Wyoming search dog units for all the long hours of work, and sacrifice they provided. Their tireless efforts brought Stephen and James home to their families, bringing peace and closure in a difficult time and situation. Every single one of the men and women who helped and interacted with the family were quintessential examples of competency, dedication, and compassion. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to the Fremont County Search and Rescue https://www.fremontsar.org/. The family would also like to thank Broulims for providing food and drinks for the teams that were looking for them, free of charge.

To share your memories of Stephen, please message (208) 557-4885 to get a link, of go to: https://forms.gle/Md2T9d3TPd4XxtqN9

Catch You Later

God be with you till we meet again

- Gone Fishing -