Duane L. Stevenson

Duane L. Stevenson, 87, of Cheyenne, passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was born on November 16, 1936, in Preston, Idaho to Leland and Erma (Sparrow) Stevenson.
Duane was raised in Idaho and Utah and grew up working on his grandparents’ dairy farm. In his own words Duane stated, “I’ve been real lucky with my life…after graduating high school, I attended Weber State College when it was still a junior college. Then I was off to the University of Utah and, later joined the U.S. Air Force for 3 years 9 months and 27 days. After the service, I went back to Weber on a scholastic probation.”
“After graduation, I moved to Denver and worked for a large insurance company and worked as an adjustor and claims supervisor. I had a hard time with the large city, traffic, and corporate mentality so I moved to Baker, Montana and bought a small insurance agency. So I went from too big to too small. After three and a half years, I sold the agency and moved to Buffalo, Wyoming to manage a corporate agency there but I was again working for a large company and my ‘personality,’ and corporate ideas didn’t make me a happy camper.”
“I moved on to Cheyenne in 1979. Two other guys (Dick Loeske and Bob Booth) and I purchased a large independent agency.” This was Bell Frontier Insurance Agency. After 40 plus years in the industry, Duane retired in 2009.
During his college years, Duane met his first wife, Barbara Rasmussen. From this marriage, two children were adopted, Steve and Tina.
In early 1985, Duane met his wife, Holly Hansen, while squabbling over their garbage cans. After developing a friendship, they later married in 1990. Duane and Holly travelled extensively after they both retired and then eventually became Arizona snowbirds.
Duane had lots of bad habits that entailed lots of big boy toys: golf, snowmobiling, dune buggies, RZR’s, ‘wrenching,’ and playing poker. His friend, Jim Larson, remembers Duane as the most competitive guy he ever met. As an avid golfer, he bragged that he had made six hole-in-ones. He played golf with many famous people such as: Smoky Robinson, Joe Louis, Jan Stephenson, Jerry Tarkanian, and several others over the years. When snowmobiling, he boosted about going the fastest and the highest up the mountain. Duane was a licensed pilot. He also had a passion for buying and selling used cars.
Duane adored his four grandchildren and most recently his six great grandchildren. He would say they were the light of his life clear until the end.
Duane is survived by his wife, Holly; his son, Steve Stevenson; his daughter, Tina Baker (James); his grandchildren: Alyssa Lantz (Matt), Kyle Stevenson (Brittney), Danielle Martin, Rachel Bustillo (Shane); his great grandchildren: Mason, Ashtyn, Carter, Isabel, MacKinleigh, and Westin; his former wife, Barbara Stevenson; a sister-in-law, Janeal Stevenson, and his two nieces and a nephew.
He is preceded in death by his parents Leland Stevenson, Erma Tuck, brother, Bud Stevenson and stepfather, Bob Tuck.
Duane asked to be remembered as a fun guy who loved his wife, his kids, his grandkids, and his great grandkids.
Military honors will be at the Cheyenne National Cemetery on May 3, 2024, at 10:00 am with a reception to follow at the Airport Golf Club in Cheyenne.
If you would like to donate in Duane’s memory, please consider the Cheyenne Animal Shelter, 800 Southwest Drive, Cheyenne, WY 82007, Rocky Mountain Raptor Program, 2519 Shield Street #1K-115, Fort Collins, CO 80526 or Wind River Indian Reservation Student Emergency Fund C/O Highlands Presbyterian Church, 2390 Pattison Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82009.