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Steven Ray Yestness Retired Lt. Col. Steven Ray Yestness, affectionately known as Bubba¸ passed away in his sleep at age 59 on Tuesday, December 22nd. He was born in Imperial, Nebraska on October 28th, 1950 to Don and Jane Yestness. He often told stories of growing up in Yellowstone National Park with his parents and sister Kristi. He graduated from Lake County High School in Leadville, Colorado, received multiple athletic letters, and placed 7th in the Nation in Downhill national ski competition in 1969. He majored in Military Sciences at the USAF Academy and was Captain of the Ski Team. After graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1973, he married Brenda Hanson September 1st. He attended helicopter pilot training and became an instructor himself. He commanded multiple search and rescue units and has over 200 saved lives credited to his efforts in Air Rescue Recovery Service. He earned his M.S. in Human Relations. He told his daughters this meant he had a piece of paper that said he could relate to humans. As an avid skier and all-around excellent athlete, Steve instilled both a competitive and good-sport nature in his daughters Nissa and Astrid teaching them to ski and play basketball and softball. He was often known for saying, "Been There, Done That, Got the T-shirt and the Hat." He is survived by wife Brenda in Colorado Springs, daughters Nissa Rae Yestness and husband Shaun in Brighton, CO and Astrid Kari Yestness and fiancé Dylan McGill in Colorado Springs, mother Jane in Windsor, CO, father Don in Arizona, sister Kristi Quinlan in Windsor, CO, mother-in-law LaVerne Hanson, sisters-in-law Carol Hanson, Kathy Hanson, brother-in-law Brian Hanson, nieces Tina Smith, Larissa Quinlan, Kimberly Hanson, Kim Smith, nephews Brent Smith, Cpl. Sean Quinlan, Matthew Hanson, 5 grandnieces and grandnephews. Services will be held Tuesday, January 5th, 10am at the AF Academy Cemetery Memorial Pavilion. Visitation will be at Swan Law Funeral Home 5-7 pm Monday, January 4th. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Steven's name to Liberty High School Athletics: Women's Basketball & Softball, Disabled American Veterans, or your favorite animal rescue. Thank you to all those that loved Steven and touched his life. Please go to www.mem.com and search for Yestness to see more of his biography and leave your memories and stories. Published in The Gazette on December 29, 2009
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Retired Lt. Col. Steven Ray Yestness, affectionately known as Bubba¸ passed away in his sleep at age 59 on Tuesday, December 22nd. He was born in Imperial, Nebraska on October 28th, 1950 to Don and Jane Yestness. He often told stories of growing up in Yellowstone National Park with his parents and sister Kristi. He graduated from Lake County High School in Leadville, Colorado, received multiple athletic letters, and placed 7th in the Nation in Downhill national ski competition in 1969. He majored in Military Sciences at the USAF Academy and was Captain of the Ski Team. After graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1973, he married Brenda Hanson September 1st. He attended helicopter pilot training and became an instructor himself. He commanded multiple search and rescue units and has over 200 saved lives credited to his efforts in Air Rescue Recovery Service. He earned his M.S. in Human Relations. He told his daughters this meant he had a piece of paper that said he could relate to humans. As an avid skier and all-around excellent athlete, Steve instilled both a competitive and good-sport nature in his daughters Nissa and Astrid teaching them to ski and play basketball and softball. He was often known for saying, "Been There, Done That, Got the T-shirt and the Hat." He is survived by wife Brenda in Colorado Springs, daughters Nissa Rae Yestness and husband Shaun in Brighton, CO and Astrid Kari Yestness and fiancé Dylan McGill in Colorado Springs, mother Jane in Windsor, CO, father Don in Arizona, sister Kristi Quinlan in Windsor, CO, mother-in-law LaVerne Hanson, sisters-in-law Carol Hanson, Kathy Hanson, brother-in-law Brian Hanson, nieces Tina Smith, Larissa Quinlan, Kimberly Hanson, Kim Smith, nephews Brent Smith, Cpl. Sean Quinlan, Matthew Hanson, 5 grandnieces and grandnephews. Services will be held Tuesday, January 5th, 10am at the AF Academy Cemetery Memorial Pavilion. Visitation will be at Swan Law Funeral Home 5-7 pm Monday, January 4th. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Steven's name to Liberty High School Athletics: Women's Basketball & Softball, Disabled American Veterans, or your favorite animal rescue. Thank you to all those that loved Steven and touched his life. Please go to www.mem.com and search for Yestness to see more of his biography and leave your memories and stories.