Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
H. Arthur “Art” Stevens was born near Fargo, N.D., in rural Dash Township on Nov. 18, 1925. He died in The Dalles, Ore., in the Oregon Veterans Home on March 28, 2019. Throughout his long life, Art was known as a man of integrity. He was proud of being a talkative Irishman, full of convictions, stories, and opinions, which he shared freely.
Art was the youngest of eight children born to George Franklin Stevens and Minnie Estelle Bradley. His hardscrabble North Dakota childhood imprinted lifelong habits of frugality and tenacity. As a youth, Art travelled west on the Empire Builder to resettle in Elk, Wash. The verdant land and abundant produce of Spokane County, and its contrast to his formative Dust Bowl experiences, nurtured Art’s commitment to agriculture, land conservation, real estate investments, and innovative land management practices.
In 1943, Art enlisted in the V-5 USNR Air Corps and was transferred by the Navy to V-12a USNR shortly before turning 18. Due to a medical emergency, Art was unable to report for active duty until spring 1944, at which time he began pre-flight school training at Minot State. Later that year, he transferred into NROTC and went to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Art sometimes remarked that his life was marked by being in “the right place at the right time.” This maxim was particularly true in Evanston, where he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity, met and married M. Susan “Sue” Cattin, and was graduated with a B.S. in business administration. Art received early training with the Rollins Burdick Hunter Co. in Chicago and went on to have a long and successful career in the insurance industry.
Art and Sue moved to Oregon in 1950, first to Portland and later to a farm near Lake Oswego, where they raised five children (Joan, Carol, Michael, Richard and Susan). Art worked for D.K. MacDonald & Co. until it was sold to Marsh & McLennen, from which he retired in 1985 to pursue longstanding interests in ranching and travel. By 1990, Art and Sue moved to the Columbia River Gorge and enjoyed the activities and communities they discovered. Their golden years were shadowed by Sue’s illness, but Art cared for her with devotion, first at home and later, until her 2018 death at Providence Brookside in Hood River.
Art was predeceased by his parents and siblings, wife, and a granddaughter. Survivors include his five children and their spouses, six grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and six great-grandchildren. His family is grateful to Providence Hospice of the Gorge for easing Art’s final days. He died knowing the pasture was greening up and purple and white crocuses were in bloom. Arrangements by Gardners Funeral Home. Disposition by cremation and private ceremony.
To plant a tree in memory of Art Stevens as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
Art drove all the way to Luscher Farm in July 2017 to attend the grand opening of the Hazelia Agri-Cultural Heritage Trail. Heritage signs for both Stevens Meadow and the house where Art grew up were on display, and he shared with the attendees his love for Susan. I will always carry fond memories of Art in my heart.
My deepest condolences, Art was a great person to me he was a adviser and a friend. He shared many of his stories from when he first went on a date with his lovely bride and the first time they went skating. Shared how proud he was of his children and grandkids. We talk about how bad I was of making popcorn to how I needed to enriched my vocabulary and he was going to teach me. He always ask about my horse and gave advised on how to raised him. He used to say he worry about me because that horse one day was going to kill me if I did not fix him. We talk about the list he had made for his children of what they should do in their life staring from a will to an advance directive. His vocabulary was rich and always chose his words. I considered him a friend. I am Mexican I always told him I was French because of my ascent. He always knew I was joking, He call me Dolores and frequently ask me if I had nothing better to do than to bother him. I never had a dull moment when we talk he always had stories to tell. We laugh when his driving license was at stake and he said "I show them who is Art Stevens", he corrected me in my English he was a great teacher, great stories to tell from the time of the depression until now. I will miss him and remember him always when is harvest time. He love comice pears because according to him that was his lovely bride favorite pears.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
(4) entries
Correction: The house was where Art and Susan raised their five children. My condolences go out to his family.
Art drove all the way to Luscher Farm in July 2017 to attend the grand opening of the Hazelia Agri-Cultural Heritage Trail. Heritage signs for both Stevens Meadow and the house where Art grew up were on display, and he shared with the attendees his love for Susan. I will always carry fond memories of Art in my heart.
My deepest condolences, Art was a great person to me he was a adviser and a friend. He shared many of his stories from when he first went on a date with his lovely bride and the first time they went skating. Shared how proud he was of his children and grandkids. We talk about how bad I was of making popcorn to how I needed to enriched my vocabulary and he was going to teach me. He always ask about my horse and gave advised on how to raised him. He used to say he worry about me because that horse one day was going to kill me if I did not fix him. We talk about the list he had made for his children of what they should do in their life staring from a will to an advance directive. His vocabulary was rich and always chose his words. I considered him a friend. I am Mexican I always told him I was French because of my ascent. He always knew I was joking, He call me Dolores and frequently ask me if I had nothing better to do than to bother him. I never had a dull moment when we talk he always had stories to tell. We laugh when his driving license was at stake and he said "I show them who is Art Stevens", he corrected me in my English he was a great teacher, great stories to tell from the time of the depression until now. I will miss him and remember him always when is harvest time. He love comice pears because according to him that was his lovely bride favorite pears.
My deepest condolences.
Sign the guestbook.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.