Stephen Wade Bear was born March 2, 1960, in Owyhee, Nevada, to Mr. and Mrs. Richard and Lillian D. Bear. He was called home April 12, 2022, at 11:56 a.m. Most known by family and friends as “Steve.” He was sick, but strong, and from this illness was his passing.
He was a Skull Valley Band of Goshutes member in Skull Valley, Utah. He is Western Shoshone/Goshute. He went to Tooele High School, Intermountain Boarding School in Brigham City (1974-75), and Riverside Boarding School in California. He went on to go to United Tribes Technical College a trade school in Bismark, North Dakota, in 1978, where he also received his GED. He was a certified heavy equipment operator and that is the work he loved to do.
He met Lisa DeCoteau; they married and had their daughter Stephanie Bear, then later divorced. He worked alongside his dad Richard Bear and brother Leon Bear with projects on our reservation. He took care of the buffalos and the land. He liked riding motorcycles, reading books, taking care of his animals, having a good time and helping neighbors and family. He worked at the Tekoi Test Range for 15 years. Most of all he loved his home in Skull Valley where he had resided for many years. He travelled places and met many people; he definitely made his mark in this world and is gone but will never be forgotten.
Surviving him are his daughters Stephanie Bear (North Dakota) and Sheila Urias (Nevada); his sisters Donna Chavez (Henry), Frances Prior, and Annette Bear; his brothers Clifton Oppenhein, Arthur Oppenhein, and Dennis Oppenhein; his grandchildren Haidyn, Chesnie and Camden; also nieces and nephews who love and will miss him very much.
He was preceded in death by his father Richard Bear (Utah); his mother Lillian D. Bear (Nevada); his brothers Leon Bear and Larry Bear; grandparents Johnnie and Vida Bear (Utah), Bud Decker and Mae Hicks (Nevada); and his young loving nephews and niece who were called home too soon Jessica Bear, Travis Kessinger, Albert Chavez, and Johnnie Bear.
His service was held Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at Tate Mortuary.