Thomas Stephen "Steve" Everist Sr 1921-2011

EVERIST GREEN BAXTER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/4/2011 at 22:17:24

Sioux City Journal
3 February 2011

SIOUX CITY -- Thomas Stephen "Steve" Everist Sr., 90, formerly of Sioux City died Monday, Jan. 31, 2011, at his home in Sioux Falls, S.D., after a brief bout with cancer. His wife of 67 years, Katherine (Baxter) was by his side.

Memorial services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Church of the Good Shepherd, 2707 W. 33rd Street, Sioux Falls. In addition, there will be a celebration of Steve's life at Breezewood Cottage, Dixon Beach, Lake Okoboji, Iowa, in July. Date and time to be announced. Arrangements are under the direction of Miller Funeral Home in Sioux Falls.

Steve was born Jan. 20, 1921, in Sioux City, to Julia (Green) and Hubert H. Everist. The fifth of seven children, he grew up in Sioux City, attended Canterbury School, Princeton University, the University of Colorado, and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

He married his childhood sweetheart Katherine Baxter in Lake Okoboji, Iowa, in 1943. Their first child, Susan, was born in Sioux City. The family moved to Seattle, Wash., where Steve got a job with Dunn and Bradstreet. Daughter, Kim, and son, Tom, were born there. In 1950, the family moved to Dell Rapids, S.D., for a short time before settling in Sioux Falls, where daughter, Anne, was born.

Steve had a long, successful career with his brother, Rick, at LG Everist Inc., rock aggregate producers.

For many years, Steve was a member of and held offices in Downtown Rotary, Okoboji Yacht Club, Minnehaha Country Club (aka "The Dubby-Dub"), Sioux Falls Parking Board, Avera McKennan Hospital Board of Trustees, Sioux Falls Traffic Bureau, and United Way. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, and Calvary Episcopal Cathedral in Sioux Falls, St. Albans Episcopal Church in Spirit Lake, Iowa, and St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Boca Grande, Fla.

Steve's family remembers how he loved his workshop and fixing anything that was broken. He was a lifelong boater, but he especially loved sailing. He was a golfer, tennis player, sculptor, classical music lover, sailboat race judge, sun worshipper, businessman, community supporter, veteran football-bettor (who didn't care who won), bird lover, and family man.

Steve and Katherine built their first house in Seattle with their own hands. They have fond memories of sailing across the Atlantic ocean on a 100-foot sailboat as part of a crew of nine. In Sioux Falls, they loved canoeing down the Sioux River surrounded by fireflies. In 1958, with 16 other families, they buried a 25-year time capsule containing their predictions for the future. In 1983, all the families gathered again to open the capsule and reminisce.

Every summer for the last 50 years, family and friends spent many fun times at the Everists' cottage on Lake Okoboji, Iowa. During the winters, Steve and Katherine lived in Boca Grande, Fla., where they did lots of boating, golfing, and watching the sunsets on the beach with friends. All would gather on First Street in their golf carts and Steve always had his pretzels and chardonnay over ice to give his "Kaflusky!" toast.

Steve (Dear, dad, grandpa, grandfather, grampy, great-grampa) will be very much missed by his wife and his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Katherine "Kathy/Kath" Baxter Everist; children, Susan Everist Scott (Duane Waack, special friend) of Sioux Falls, Kim Everist (Mike VanSlambrouck) of Davis, Calif., Tom Everist (Barb McBride) of Sioux Falls, and Anne (Anney) Everist Rehm (Dennis) of Austin, Texas; grandchildren, Ted McMillan (Missy) of Anchorage, Alaska, Steve Everist of Denver, Colo., Steve McMillan (Kiria) of Lakeville, Minn., and Panama, Central America, Julie McLaughlin (Jim) of Washington, D.C., Mike Everist (Christina) of Denver, Nancy Bateman (Curtis) of Alexandria, Va., and Lacey Everist Books (Paul) of Denver; great-grandchildren, Emma McMillan, Gianna McMillan, Katiana McMillan, Isabela McMillan, and William McLaughlin; siblings, Juliana Schust of Sarasota, Fla., Garland Everist (Betty) of Sioux City, Hubert Everist Jr. of Sioux City, Phil Everist of Sioux Falls, Rick Everist (Marian) of Leawood, Kan., and Dan Everist of Sioux City; and 32 nieces and nephews.

Steve was preceded in death by his mother, Julie (Green) Everist; and his father, Hubert H. Everist, who lived to the age of 103.

Memorials may be directed to Avera McKennan Foundation, Avera McKennan Hospice & Palliative Care, The South Dakota Symphony, Washington Pavilion, Good Samaritan Society, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Calvary Cathedral, St. Albans Episcopal Church, and St. Andrews Episcopal Church.