Dick Steck

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(Jan. 2, 1919 - Nov. 16, 2015)

Dick Steck, 96, of Cody died Monday, Nov. 16, 2015, at the Spirit Mountain Hospice House in Cody.

Dick was born Jan. 2, 1919, to Eva and Bertram Steck. He attended Powell schools, graduating in 1936. 

After graduation he worked on the Ralston canal, and in Yellowstone Park, where he learned to hate bears.

Dick joined the Navy on Oct. 3, 1938. He served on destroyers mostly in the Atlantic and later the Pacific oceans.

After Dick was stateside, Afton Jones, from Byron, joined him in Charleston, South Carolina, on Sept. 3, 1942. They had two children, Jan and Vern; two grandchildren, Tammy and Troy, and great-grandchildren, Lacy, Tiffany, Drew and Michaela.

After his discharge in 1945, Dick and Afton settled in Cody and opened a small C & S grocery store. This small “Mom and Pop” store evolved into Steck’s I.G.A. Together they ran this store for 35 years. They loved their customers as well as their many employees.

After they retired, they traveled in their motor home, golfing along the way. Dick was a great golfer and had many trophies to show for it.

Afton passed away on May 24, 1994. They had a great life together.

Over the years, Dick remained loyal to the organizations Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Elks lodge, the Lions Club and the Eagles.

Dick is survived by his wife Shirley; daughter and her husband, Jan and Bill; grandchildren Mike and Juliet Ellis; Greg and Julie Ellis, Troy and Renee Jones; granddaughters Tammy Jones, great-granddaughters Michaela Jones, Dakota Jones, Lacy Ellis, Tiffany Ellis, and Monica Tanner; great-grandson Drew Jones; and great-great-granddaughters Ziata Moreno and Leah Tanner. 

He is also survived by sisters Colette Gimmeson and Donna Irestone. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Bertram and Ava, brother Bud Steck, and son Vern.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at the Cody Methodist Church, 1405 Beck Avenue in Cody, with burial to follow at Riverside Cemetery. There will be a luncheon at the V.F.W. Hall at noon.

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