Obituary - Harry "Bob" Robert Stehman

Harry "Bob" Robert Stehman, 88, of Gildford, Montana, passed away on Feb. 12, 2015, at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue, Washington.

Bob was born Oct. 20, 1926, in Salunga, Pennsylvania, to Harry (Hen) and Florence (Floss) Stehman. He spent his growing up years helping out at the Stehman Brothers automobile garage in Salunga, where his dad and uncle ran the business. His grandpa Hiram had originally built the garage with family living nearby within walking distance.

He graduated high school early, worked at the nearby railroad yard and in electronics at Armstrong Cork Company in Pennsylvania and then enlisted in the United States Navy through the end of World War II, with an honorable  discharge.

After his duty in the Navy, he went to Elizabethtown College near his hometown in Lancaster County. He left college to attend the Church of the Brethren Seminary in Chicago. During his summer internship in 1951, he worked for the Milk River Church of the Brethren in Kremlin, Montana.

In the fall of 1951 he attended McPherson College in Kansas, chartered by leaders of the Church of the Brethren. He studied to be credited as a teacher, and in the winter of 1952 taught school in Rudyard, Montana.

The following summer Bob married Virginia Lea Good in 1952 at the Milk River Church of the Brethren in Kremlin, Montana. They moved to Park City, Montana, where he worked as a teacher. In 1953 they moved to North Manchester, Indiana, where his wife went to college, and he worked in Pierceton as a teacher.

In 1955 he received a scholarship to attend the University of Denver, Colorado. His first son Philip Michael Stehman, was born in Denver in 1956, and then his daughter Illana Lea Stehman in 1958. Bob received his Ph.D., Doctor of Philosophy, at the University of Denver.  

In 1959 his family moved to Elkton, Maryland, where he worked in the town of Perry Point as a psychologist.

In 1961 his family moved to North Easton, Massachusetts, where he worked at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Brockton. His daughter Meriahna Stehman was born in Stoughton, Massachusetts in 1961.

In 1967 Bob transferred with the Veterans Administration to Seattle, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest, living in Bellevue, Washington. A few years later, going into private practice, working in Bellevue, Seattle and across the Puget Sound to Bremerton.

Bob enjoyed skiing, hiking and camping in the Cascade Mountains with his family, also helping chaperone his children with ski racing and participating in timing the ski events.  

In 1978 Bob moved to the Big Sky of Montana to work at the state hospital in Warm Springs. Eventually, moving to Kremlin, where he worked briefly with his son in the fish business, The Catch Inc. During the harvest season he would help his son with wheat farming.

Bob started working at the Havre Clinic with the Northern Montana Medical Group, West, and the Northern Montana Hospital as a psychologist, where he enjoyed counseling and serving to help people of all ages in the community.   

Bob retired in 2001 at the age of 75. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Gildford, Montana, spending many years giving and serving, faithfully ringing the church bell every Sunday.

He continued helping his son farm, devoting his time with his family and grandchildren.

Reading was one of his favorite leisure activities, with a furry companion by his side.  

He was dearly loved by his family and all who knew him. He will be missed.

Condolences can be left with the Stehman family and children in Gildford and Kremlin, Montana, and Philadelphia, Mississippi. The Huffman family and children in Newcastle, Washington, and the Stewart family and children in Bremerton, Washington. Cascade Memorial has been entrusted with arrangements.

Services with full military honors will be at the Tahoma National Cemetery, in Kent, Washington, and a memorial service at the First Baptist Church in Gildford, Montana are being planned for a later date.  

Bob is survived by his son, Philip (Gina) Stehman of Kremlin, Montana; daughter, Illana (Mark) Huffman of Newcastle, Washington; daughter, Meriahna Stehman of Gildford, Montana; grandchildren Chelsie (Aaron) Stewart of Bremerton, Washington, Christopher Huffman of Newcastle, Washington, Rebecca Huffman of Newcastle, Washington, and great-grandchildren Asher, Veda and Emerson Stewart of Bremerton, Washington.