Steven Andrew Uptegrove, 52, of Prairie City, died Aug. 20, 2009.
His memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Seventh Street Complex in John Day. There will be a private graveside service for family and friends at the Prairie City Cemetery at 11 a.m. Thursday. Visitations will be from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Driskill Memorial Chapel in John Day.
Steve was born on May 12, 1957, at Bend to Melvin and Ruby (Anderson) Uptegrove. He was a 1975 Bend High School graduate. He attended Central Oregon Community College at Bend for four winter terms, studying forest management.
Steve married Hope Harvey on July 12, 2008, at Prairie City. He had a long and distinguished career with the U.S. Forest Service. He had been a primary or secondary firefighter since 1975 with engine experience. He held several positions including a helitack crew member, an interagency hot shot crew member (Deschutes 1HC 1979), a division group supervisor, field observer, safety officer, Class C faller, incident commander Type 3, ground support unit leader and engine foreman.
Here are details of his career: mid 1970s to 1985, Mount Bachelor lift operator and ski patrolman; 1985 to 1990 firefighter Deschutes, FOA Rock Ranger District; 1986 Detail Umpqua National Forest, Tiller Ranger District AFMO; 1991 to 1995 Payette National Forest, Krassel Ranger District AFMO; 1996 Bridger Teton National Forest, Big Piney Ranger District, engine foreman; 1997 to 2000 Shoshone National Forest, Clarks Fork Ranger District AFMO; 2001 to 2006 Malheur National Forest, Prairie City Ranger District; 2004 temporary promotion Willamette National Forest, Detroit Ranger District; 2006 to the present lateral reassignment Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Burnt Powder Fire Zone, station lead and engine foreman.
In 1990, Steve received an award for high quality/special uses program management. In 2000 he won an award for high quality/ extended service in support of fire management.
Survivors include his parents, Melvin and Ruby Uptegrove of Bend; his wife, Hope Uptegrove of Prairie City; son William Doyle; stepchildren, Jamie, Hayley, Savanah, Shannon, and Whitney; brother, Mike Uptegrove, and his wife, Marcie, of Othello, Wash.; sister, Linda Spittler, and her husband, Bob, of Bend; nephews, Adam and Rob; and nieces, Kailee, Erin and Heather.
Memorial contributions in support of Steve’s family may be made to Driskill Memorial Chapel at 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR, 97845.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon August 26, 2009
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor