STEPHEN RICHARD OWEN 1947 to 2026

Our beloved brother and uncle, Stephen Richard Owen passed away peacefully on August 29, 2026. Steve had been provided loving care at The Arbors at Vista Living Care in Las Cruces, NM for the past five years and recently also supported by Mesilla Valley Hospice.

Steve was born on November 25, 1947 in Minneapolis, MN. His family moved to Globe, AZ, to Lafayette, IN, and then to Las Cruces, NM. He graduated from Las Cruces High School and later from New Mexico State University. He played tuba in both high school and college marching bands and was active in ROTC and school spirit functions at NMSU. Steve was drafted into the Army and served in Vietnam in 1970-71. Trained as a medic, he earned the Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal in “Dust-Off” air ambulance service.

From 1975 on, Steve worked in mining, civil construction and engineering services in many states. He spent more than a year in Chile and worked on several other foreign projects. He earned his Professional Civil Engineer’s license in Arizona in 1995, which led to a decade of research work in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) for the Arizona Department of Transportation. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the ITS Arizona professional group.

In 2009, Steve retired and returned to Grants, NM, where his mining career began. As a community and public lands volunteer, he was proudest of his work in the Historical Society, helping to create the Western New Mexico Airway Heritage Museum. Many hours were spent there, as well as many cross-country trips in search of 1920's airway beacon lights and materials used to light the path for night-time air mail transit between Amarillo and Los Angeles. Truly his passion, Steve was always eager to explain the latest updates for the Aviation History Museum. In 2013, He was named Man of the Year by the national Aviation Archaeology & Heritage Association.

Steve was the leader of many exciting adventures, including Taos and Sierra Blanca ski trips, San Juan River rafting trips, Grand Canyon rim-to-rim hikes, Machu Pichu, Peru, and many, others. Steve was also a dedicated volunteer with the New Mexico Highway Beautification Project, maintaining a stretch of US Highway Route 66 near Grants, in honor of his parents Ardis and Gordon Owen. Steve led a volunteer trail crew in the Phoenix Mountain Parks for 13 years. He also completed the Bataan Death March Marathon a dozen times, rode in several Tour de Acoma bike races and made 22 rim-to-rim treks across the Grand Canyon.

Steve is survived by his sister Susan Griffin (Terry) of Las Cruces, NM, brothers Daniel of High Rolls, NM, Philip (Kim) of Las Cruces, NM, and Bill (Martha) of Tucson, AZ. Steve will always be remembered for his love of nature, family, and country. Steve will be buried in Grants, NM, his beloved home.

Donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, the Cibola County Historical Society, or the Dementia Society of America.