Veryl Stephens

Veryl Audrey "Lee" Stephens (Johnson) (Nov 25, 1934 - July 12, 2024) was born in Henderson, MN to Clarence Hartford Johnson and Audrey Maxine Pettis. She raised her younger brother Rodney Clarence Johnson after the death of her mother when she was 11. At the age of 22, Lee welcomed her first child, Kara Elizabeth Gough in Sacramento, CA. She put herself through college as a single mother in Chico, CA where she met the love of her life, Jake Stephens, whom she married on Nov 6, 1976. Together they worked ranch life for a few years, then moved to Washington State where she welcomed her son James Stephens on May 29th, 1980. Lee wrote for and published multiple articles for the local paper and Western Horseman Magazine. She then went on to work for the State in Washington, Wyoming and Montana in which she retired from doing Quality Control for Welfare.

Lee got to enjoy her dream trip to Africa and explore the many wonders Montana has to offer, such as Yellowstone Nat' Park, Lee Metcalf refuge and the Bison range. She spent much of her life working in the garden, canning, hiking and spending precious moments with her grandchildren & great grandchildren. Lee was preceded in death by Audrey Maxine Pettis, Clarence Hartford Johnson & Rodney Clarence Johnson. Lee was survived by husband Jake Stephens, children: Kara Elizabeth Gough and James Stephens and his wife Julianne Stephens Grandchildren: Amber Braidedhair, Nicholas Gough, Avery James Stephens and Alyssa Catherine Stephens. Great Grandchildren: Roan Nicholas Braidedhair & Espen Grae Braidedhair.

A Graveside service will be held at WMSVC on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.