Robert Del Stevens

Robert (Bob) D. Stevens passed away May 21, 2026. He was born in the house his Grandfather built in Chelan, Washington on July 23, 1937 to Dr. Blair and Maxine Stevens. As a young child Bob spent much of his time with his grandparents, Chester and Alma Tuttle, riding the Lake Chelan boats built by the Tuttle Brothers. He rode their Miss Coulee tour boat on Roosevelt Lake following the completion of Grand Coulee Dam. It would later become “The Lady of the Lake” Chelan. His family moved to The Dalles, Oregon where his dad had a veterinary practice until his dad was called to service in WWII and they moved to various Army posts before returning to The Dalles after the war. In 1948 his family moved to Sunnyside, Washington where he spent the remainder of his childhood. Bob was always willing to help assist his dad with veterinary farm calls which was much of the foundation for his great love, respect and knowledge of animals, and the source of many wonderful stories about his experiences. In high school Bob teamed up with his younger brother Rich for high school sports and was a standout football and baseball player. During summers, he worked in agriculture bucking hay, cutting asparagus and milking cows. He was also active in the Army Reserve Officers Training Corp. After graduation in 1956, he attended “Boot Camp” at Fort Ord, California and completed 6 months of active duty, then returned to Sunnyside to serve in the Army Reserves. Bob also worked at a 76 service station an “Outpost” Gas Mart on the Yakima Indian Reservation where he adopted orphan baby coyotes, baby ducks and other tribal drop-offs. Bob later attended WSU--also at WSU was the love of his life, Betty Schiller, his high school “steady” since their Freshman year. They married in 1958 and lived in Sunnyside just two blocks from the house where he was raised. Bob worked at B&L Lumber Co. until he transferred to CWU Ellensburg and worked at the Ellensburg bakery in the early morning. He had an opportunity to play baseball there, but eventually dropped it to focus on studies.

After CWU, Bob and Betty moved to Alki Point in West Seattle where he worked for a pharmaceutical company, then NW Metal Products. In 1961 they welcomed their son Mike into their West Seattle home and just 14 months later their daughter, Cheri. In 1966 Bob’s sales skills resulted in his being selected as the Manufacturer’s Representative for sporting goods with the major company, AMF. His new job involved travel all over the US and the family moved to Milwaukie, Oregon. Bob’s acute sales and marketing skills opened up a tough, Southern California, yard and garden market for AMF where he worked with many celebrities like Steven McQueen, John Wayne, Anthony Quinn, and others. In 1972 Bob and Betty moved their family to a small farm in Sheridan, Oregon and shortly after Bob started his own sales and marketing company, Robert Stevens and Associates. Bob loved the farm with sheep, chickens, cows, horses and a goat. Mike and Cheri were active in 4-H and FFA so Bob was right there with them, attending County Fairs and supporting not just his kids, but all the kids and their families. He was also an outdoorsman at heart. He had the family boat on the water whenever possible and passed along the fishing and hunting skills, to Mike and Cheri, that he had gleaned from his Grandfather Tuttle, in the backwoods of Chelan, and from his Dad, in the sagebrush and farm fields of Sunnyside. He also pursued his love for camping, crabbing, clamming, and travelling with them. Bob was always smiling and full of fun. He was known for taking any situation and making it fun. Sheridan was a source of many fond memories, good friends and wonderful adventures in the surrounding mountains and Oregon Coast. After retirement in 2011 Bob and Betty moved to Arlington, Washington to be close to their daughter and family. Bob was active in the Episcopal Church in each community he lived beginning with the Old Log Church (St. Andrew’s) in Chelan where he and his grandparents would head to church early on winter Sundays to fire up the wood furnace so the church would be warm for parishioners. He also attended Holy Trinity in Sunnyside, WA, and served on the vestry at St. Paul’s in Oregon City, St. Barnabas in McMinnville, OR and at St. Aidan’s on Camano Island, WA—faith was an important part of who he was. He was a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and great grandfather--Family has always come first for him.

Bob is survived by his loving wife of 67 years Betty, his beloved dog Muffy; son, Michael Stevens (Sallie) of Tigard, Oregon; daughter, Cheri Simmons (Rick) of Arlington, WA; Brothers; Richard Stevens (Beth) of Gilbert, Arizona, Dr. James Stevens (Rosalie) of Sunnyside, Washington, Grandchildren; Andrew Baker (Haley), Whitney Baker, and Great Grandchildren; Indiana, Harrison Robert, and Graham Baker. Services will be held at St. Aidan’s Church, Camano Island at a date to be determined.

Thank you to our Saint Aidan’s family and friends who have provided many prayers and support, the kind, caring staff at Cascade Valley Senior Living for providing such wonderful care this past year and to Alpha Hospice for the care and support over the past couple months.