Stephen Glenn Williams

On October 29, 2026, Stephen Glenn Williams completed his earthly life and transitioned to the next life, where he can be reunited with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, beloved family members, ancestors and friends, who have preceded him in death. He was born on October 4, 1943, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Elva Christensen Williams and Robert Cullen Williams. His older siblings, Robert, Richard, and Maurine, often commented that Steve was the "favorite child". His parents provided a loving homelife and taught him principles that helped him overcome challenges with fortitude and perseverance. He overcame many health challenges and yet lived each day with purpose, patience, and a good sense of humor even in his last days. He often shared memories of family trips, including summer adventures with cousins Todd and Gail Carlson in the canyons at the sheep herd camp in Sanpete County. He enjoyed outdoor activities like fishing and archery for which he made his own arrows. He also used his free time to create leatherwork. At the age of 13, while staying with his Carlson relatives in Salt Lake, he had a serious mishap. His parents had just started a trip traveling to California. Cell phones didn't exist and so it was necessary for the Highway Patrol to locate and inform his parents that Steve had fallen from a tall tree and therefore they needed to return immediately to Salt Lake so that permission to be given to operate and repair his badly broken hip. Following surgery, he was in a body cast that extended from the waist to the ankles of one leg and halfway down the other. When the cast was finally removed, he had to use crutches for one and a half years. He attended school armed with crutches, an elevator key, and a briefcase for his books. Typical of Steve, he turned tragedy into triumph and learned quickly to master the use of crutches speeding past others in the hallways. 

He played golf with his father and played almost as well as his dad. He also enjoyed water skiing and snow skiing. He remembered going skiing at Alta and it cost him a whopping $9 dollars a day! He enjoyed target shooting, archery and horseback riding with his cousin Todd Carlson over many summers. 

After graduating from Olympus High School in 1962, he was called to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Central Germany. Over the two and a half years serving as a missionary he became so fluent in German that investigators sometimes asked to see his passport, not believing he was not a born native German. When he returned home, he attended Utah State University, the University of Utah, then back to Utah State, from which he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. 

While attending the university, he and Valorie Smith were married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1967. They lived in Salt Lake following their marriage for just a year while he attended the University of Utah and then moved to Logan, Utah so he could attend Utah State University. Following his graduation they moved to Bakersfield, California where he worked with his brother, Dick's modular housing company. During this time he was challenged by a chronic intestinal health condition. A fire at the housing company required him to find a new job elsewhere. He had an interview with Walt Disney Productions and was offered a position at the the Disney Studios in the purchasing department as a buyer. Disney Studio Productions was a fantastic opportunity and he and Valorie moved to Burbank, California. Soon after moving to Burbank, their first son Chad was born and eighteen months later, a second son, Todd, was born. Todd's first birthday was celebrated in Steve's hospital room. One month prior to this celebration, Steve had survived a critical ulcerative colitis attack which necessitated emergency surgery to spare his life and had endured a month in the ICU. The hospital was just across the street from Disney Studios and Steve's colleagues visited him daily. California will always be remembered because of wonderful friends who shared the good times and the less good times. A year later a phone call presented an unexpected opportunity. Steve was offered a job which would bring the family back to Salt Lake City. It was difficult to leave the favorable situation at Disney and close friends, but the possibility of being surrounded by family and the possibility of owning their own home someday prompted the acceptance of this employment opportunity. 

Throughout his life, Steve has enjoyed listening to music, especially country music. He also enjoyed the "open road" while cruising on his 1969 Triumph mortorcycle, which is still in optimum condition to this day. He found great enjoyment in his extensive Disney collection and expansive LGB train system. Steve is known for making things last when others might feel the need to buy new. He quit work to provide daily care for his father, who was in his nineties until his father passed on in December of 2003. Steve and Valorie have had the opportunity to travel throughout the United States and over ten foreign destinations, experiencing many cultures and seeing the historical sights throughout the world. Wherever Steve traveled, he learned to value the people and their varied cultures. 

In February of 2023, Steve was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Dr. David Gill, his oncologist, and Garrett Thornley NP, at the Murray IMC, along with his staff provided palliative care treatment that extended his life. When first diagnosed with cancer, the oncologists estimated that he would have just weeks to live. At the end of January 2026, Dr. Gill recommended Hospice to provide in home care for Steve. His hospice team faithfully provided superb palliative care. Pedro gave extraordinary care, along with Delores, Dustin, and Mario throughout this time as Steve's health declined further. We especially thank in particular his nurse, Collin Bingham, who was supportive, skilled, efficient, and compassionate. He was supportive when we needed it most, helping to keep Steve comfortable and able to endure the hardest battle of his life, peacefully at home. Steve survived nine months on Hospice with stamina and a positive attitude. His nurse, Collin, remarked that he was setting some kind of record for endurance because his decline was surprisingly slow. 

Every day Steve will be remembered with love by his wife, Valorie; sons, Chad (Dene') and Todd; grandchildren Cullen, Daisy Gleim (Taylor); and great-granddaughter Zara; extended family; and many friends who will miss his cheerful presence in their lives.