Steven Anthony Granger

Steve was born on October 25, 1944, in Yakima, Washington, to Alvin and Joyce (Kelso) Granger. His family moved to the Boise, Idaho, valley when he was 10 and, in 1963, he graduated from Caldwell High School, where he excelled in football and student government. After attending Boise Junior College and Rutgers University, Steve graduated from the University of Idaho in 1968 with a BA in History/Law, and with a BS in Business Administration in 1970. He was a life-long member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He married his first wife, Ruth, in 1967 and their son, Sean, was born in 1970. Following graduation in May 1970, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served as an artillery battalion signal officer and headquarters commander during the Vietnam War. After being honorably released from active duty in June 1972, Steve returned to Idaho and worked as a crisis center director in Coeur d’Alene. He and Ruth divorced in 1973. He then worked as a transportation planner for Ada County in Boise, and a regional health systems planner for Kootenai County in Coeur d’Alene. He also completed a year of masters graduate study in Applied Behavioral Science through the Leadership Institute of Spokane with Whitworth College in 1973-1974. Steve met and married his wife and best friend, Nancy Kortum, in Leavenworth, Washington, on April 1, 1979, and they settled in Olympia, Washington, where Steve was employed by Thurston County. Steve retired from Thurston County Roads and Transportation Services on January 1, 2009, after 29 years of service a Program Administrator and Safety and Equipment Instructor. He especially enjoyed watching college and NFL football; taking local hikes, bike rides, and day trips to Mt. Rainier and Westport; working in the yard; and caring for his and Nancy’s cats. Steve passed away March 14, 2023, in Olympia, Washington. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Granger; son, Sean Granger of Post Falls, Idaho; three sisters, Sharon Grant of Fruitland, Idaho, Sandra Smith of Tumwater, Washington, and Tracy Rogers of Grain Valley Missouri. He was also very close to his brother and sister-in-law, Terry and Linda Wolfe of Taos, New Mexico; and nephew, Chris Waldon of Kirkland, Washington. His Sunwood Lake neighbors were also very special to him. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Bruce Granger. Steve requested to be cremated without funeral or memorial services. Please leave condolences or share memories and photos on the Tribute Wall to the left.