Steven Todd Reeder

Steven Todd Reeder, 63, a widely loved man known by many names including Coach Reeder, Mr. Reeder, Bishop Reeder, Brother Reeder, brother, husband, Dad, and (perhaps most endearingly)Papa, passed away January 28, 2016, in his cabin, which is surrounded by the hiking/snowshoe trails of the nature that he loved in Star Valley Ranch, Wyoming.
Steve was born to Spencer Ross Reeder and Verna Mable Todd Reeder on September 4, 1952, in Brigham City, Utah. As a boy Steve worked in his dad’s cherry orchard and on his uncle’s farm in Box Elder. He graduated from Box Elder High School in 1970. After spending a semester at BYU Hawaii (and gaining competitive proficiency at the Samoan Slap Dance!), Steve received a call to serve in the Oregon Mission for the LDS Church, laboring in such areas as Hood River, Portland, and La Grande. When he returned from his mission, he attended BYU Provo and courted the beautiful Dona Jean Anderson. Needless to say, they married shortly afterward on August 15, 1974, in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple.
Steve received his teaching degree in Physical Education and English and first taught in Duchesne for one year before accepting a position at Mount Logan Middle School, where he would go on to teach for 32 years. In 1987, Steve received a Master’s Degree from Utah State University in Exercise Science. During his time as a middle school teacher, Steve took a job as an assistant track coach at Utah State University, where he coached and trained the men and women’s distance track team and cross country teams for the following 35 years. While coaching at Utah State, Steve was able to take three runners to Nationals, win 38 Conference Championships, besides being able to mentor some of the greatest people to come out of Utah State’s athletic program.
In 2002, Steve was nominated to be an Olympic Torch bearer and was honored by being assigned to carry the torch out of the Spectrum after a community ceremony celebrating the event. Steve also participated in Scouting and worked for many years at Camp Hunt, Bear Lake as the Waterfront Director, Program Director, and then Camp Director.
Steve will always be remembered for his passion for physical fitness and activities, his modest and easygoing personality, his “intimidating calves,” his keen mind for continued learning, his natural affinity for telling inspirational and humorous stories, and his fierce dedication to his sweetheart wife.
After retiring from teaching and coaching, Steve and Dona eagerly accepted a mission call for the LDS Church to serve as Directors of a Young Women’s Camp in upstate New York, where they were to begin service March 2016. Instead, Steve has been called to serve a more exalted mission.
Surviving Steve is his wife and eternal partner, Dona; Emily Ann Prusso (Dustin), Livermore, CA; Daisy Sue Scott (Shayne), Parowan, UT; Joseph Martin Reeder (Bonnie), Smithfield, UT; Isaac Spencer Reeder (Elise), River Heights, UT; Sadie Leigh West (Christian), River Heights, UT; plus 23 glorious grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 5, 2016 in the River Heights LDS Stake Center, 800 South 600 East in River Heights, UT. A viewing will be held on Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center Street in Logan, and prior to the services on Friday at the church from 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net .
All attendees are invited to wear running shoes in celebration of Steve’s passion for running, and in lieu of flowers, new running shoes can be donated to young runners as a means of inspiring future generations of runners. Donations will be accepted in the foyer at the funeral service or sent to: Dona Reeder, 469 E 700 S, River Heights, UT 84321.