Loyd Walter “Tip” Stevens, 89, died on Friday, September 29, 2023, at Azria Health Longview Nursing Home in Missouri Valley. He was born on November 25, 1933, to William and Sarah (Parker) Stevens on a farm west of Mondamin. He graduated from Mondamin High School in 1953. After graduation Tip worked for Iverson Grocery Store in Mondamin and then began working for Parson’s Construction in Mead, Nebr. at the Mead Defense Plant, building the railroad. Tip was drafted into the Army in 1954 and he attended basic training at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. He played baseball for the Army team in Aiken, S. C., which is part of Fort Gordon at Savannah River Defense Area (SRDA), traveling across the southern states to Air Force and Naval bases. SRDA became the site for the United States H-bomb production in 1951. After his honorable discharge, Tip married Katherine Coyle and they moved to Woodbine where he worked for Brown Manufacturing and later for the Harrison County Secondary Roads Department as a welder. Tip was an active member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Logan where he served as an Elder and sat on the church board.
Tip loved baseball and was known as one of the power hitters during his high school years for the Mondamin Hornets. During the 1950’s and 60’s, Woodbine was known as a baseball town and he played for a semi-pro team there called the Whiz-Kids, led by Red Brummer. Bob Gibson, who became a pitcher for the Saint Louis Cardinals also played for the Whiz-Kids during this time. Tip played for several neighboring town teams including Woodbine, Missouri Valley and Mondamin. The Woodbine team that he played on from 1958 until 1966 also included Jim Boustead, Peachy Mefferd, Burt Moores, Bill Harris, Max Boustead, Lynn Royer and many others from Woodbine. Tip attended Iowa University for one semester in 1957 until he broke his arm during gymnastics. His hobbies included making wine for nearly 60 years and building beautiful fireplaces in nine homes around Woodbine and the surrounding communities. Tip, Kathryn and their children and grandchildren spent over 20 years during retirement at their summer home along the Missouri River known as Ryan’s Landing.
Tip was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Katherine; and siblings, Thelma Winchester, Floyd Stevens, Charlie Stevens, George Stevens and Leo Stevens. He is survived by his sons, David Stevens and his wife Patti of Woodbine, Jerry Stevens and his wife Theresa of Underwood, and John Stevens of Omaha, Nebr.; six grandchildren; 10+ great grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
A graveside service was held on October 4, 2023, at the Woodbine Cemetery. Reverand Daniel Steeb presided over the service. The pallbearers were Jake Flom, Kevin Davidson, Christopher Stevens and Ryan Victor. Military Rites were performed by the Woodbine Weiss American Legion Post #143.
Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine was in charge of arrangements. www.foutsfuneralhome.com
