Michael R. Stephens

Michael Richard Stephens, 85, of Arvada, Colo., passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 4, 2023, with his loving family at his side. Mike was born on August 18, 1938, to Clifford and Viola Stephens in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. The family moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where Mike graduated from Cheyenne High School and met his wife of 65 years, Ruby Mae Richards.

After a stint in the army and the birth of two children in Cheyenne, Mike embarked on a journey that would bless him with two more children and take him to Altus, Oklahoma, and Santa Maria and San Diego, California, eventually returning to Wyoming and Colorado. He worked as a switchman and brakeman on the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad for 25 years, where he lead the local workers union. He also owned and managed numerous successful businesses throughout his life.

Mike balanced pursuing his passions and caring for his family.

His love for the cowboy life was well-known. Over the years, he could be found behind the chutes at Frontier Park, eagerly awaiting his turn in the Wild Horse Race at a Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.

Mike lived with a thirst for adventure, which included skillfully refinishing a small boat for fishing excursions off the coast of San Diego, learning to fly his plane, and riding his Harley alongside friends. He learned to kayak, tackled Colorado rivers and the Grand Canyon via raft, and taught his children to catch brookies on the Encampment River in Wyoming. He dedicated two unforgettable summers to transporting mountain climbers traveling from Anchorage to the Alaska Range and completed an epic hike (slog) to the Mint Glacier Hut in the Talkeetna Mountains.

In his retirement, Mike stayed active by constructing a barn with his two hands, traveling with his family to New York, Nashville, Italy, Panama, Hawaii, the US Virgin Islands, and Mexico, and driving the Alcan Highway route from Colorado to Talkeetna, Alaska not once, but twice.

With a razor-sharp mind, old soul wisdom, and quick wit, Mike delighted in imparting kernels of philosophy such as, “sometimes it’s better to be lucky than smart,” “if it doesn’t kill you it will make you stronger,” and “don’t tell me why you can’t; find a way that you can.” Even in the most challenging circumstances, Mike would say, “I feel like a million bucks!”
Mike and Ruby, his wife of 65 years, worked hard to build a wonderful life filled with love for family above all else. Mike’s generous and humble spirit will be missed, but Mike’s big cowboy heart will continue to beat in the lives of his family and friends.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, sister Joan Brummond and her husband Leroy, and grandson Stephen. He leaves behind his wife, Ruby; children Julia (Dave), Melanie (Mike), Cliff (Gabi), and Kathie (Austin); grandchildren Shane, Alixon, Mateo, and Michael; and his brother Casey and his wife, Terri. Mike loved and was thankful for every one of his nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A celebration of Mike’s life will be held at The Gathering Place, 1900 E 21st Street, Cheyenne, on Saturday, November 11 from 12 to 3 p.m.

Instead of flowers, please consider a contribution in his name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.