Willard Dean Stevens, 78 a longtime Snoqualmie resident, passed away of natural causes, on Thursday evening, February 17, 2011 at his home. He was born on August 24, 1932 in Oso, Washington the only child of Albert L. and Gladys F. (Main) Stevens. The family moved to Snoqualmie in 1941, where he completed his education, graduating from Mount Si High School class of 1950. Following graduation he worked for about a year for the Milwaukee Railroad as a telegraph operator and in 1951, following a family tradition, he went to work for the Weyerhaeuser Company as a logger. He entered the United States Air Force in 1952 and became a flight engineer aboard a C119. He met Neva June Howell on a blind date and they were married on December 26, 1952 in Snoqualmie. As a young Air Force couple, they lived in Memphis, TN and Sulfur, Oklahoma, where his Squadron was stationed. In the summer of 1956 he received his discharge from the service and they returned to Snoqualmie, where he returned to his job. He retired in 1994 after a total of 43 years, operating heavy equipment, building and maintaining logging roads. Following retirement he enjoyed traveling, especially in their motorhome and spending the winters in Arizona. He enjoyed his vegetable garden, painting and artwork and was an avid reader, especially history. He spent several years as a little league coach, and enjoyed hunting, steelhead and salmon fishing. He was a life member and past commander of the Renton-Pickering Post 79 of the American Legion and a past member of the Moose and Elks Lodges. He was preceded in death by his mother in 1995, his father in 2000 and his wife in 2006. Survivors include three children, Jeff (Teddy) Stevens of Othello, WA, Teresa Schomber of North Bend , Scott (Lisa) Stevens of Snoqualmie, Wayne Schomber of North Bend. Four grandchildren, Brenda Young of Othello, Elizabeth Schomber of North Bend, Jacqueline Stevens of Pasco and Eric Schomber of North Bend and by 5 great grandsons. Other survivors include his sister-in-law, Betty LaPierre of Spirit Lake, ID and his Aunt, Carolyn Main of Snoqualmie and numerous cousins. A celebration of Life (Wake) will be held on Saturday, February 26, 2011 from 1-4 PM at the Snoqualmie Valley Eagles. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 24th from 2-5 PM at Flintoft’s Funeral Home in Issaquah. He will be laid to rest in a private service with military honors next to his wife at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, Washington. Memorials are suggested to the Snoqualmie Valley Veterans Memorial, C/o SVHM –VM, PO Box 179, North Bend, WA 98045 Friends are invited to share memories and sign the family’s on-line guest book at www.flintofts.com.