Lancaster Stephen

Stephen Kenneth Lancaster, 84, of East Wenatchee, died at home on Sunday, September 20, 2009. He was married to Audrey J. (Swager) Lancaster for 66 years, and for 58 years they lived at the same house in East Wenatchee, where they raised eight children, five girls and three boys. Stephen was known variously as "Steve," "SK" or "Red" throughout his life. Steve was born on December 25, 1924, in Grand Forks, B.C., to Emma and William Edward "Ed" Lancaster. Steve's parents were visiting relatives in Grand Forks from their home on the Short Ranch near Danville, WA, when the expected happened unexpectedly, a Christmas baby. Steve lived at the Short Ranch with his family, until they moved to Wenatchee in 1929. At about the age of seven, Steve was witness to the crash landing of Miss Veedol, at the completion of its Trans-Pacific flight. A photograph, taken at the time by The Wenatchee Daily World, shows Steve and his father, Ed, standing next to the wreckage. Steve graduated from Wenatchee High in 1942. As a senior in high school, he competed in track and won the javelin throw at State and placed second in the 880. In 1943, he entered the Army and served in the Pacific as a Technical Sergeant, repairing equipment in war zones. He also served as part of the Allied Occupation Forces on Hokkaido Island, near Sapporo, during the winter of 1945-46. He enjoyed regaling his children with stories about life in the barracks, beneath 20 feet of snow. After his discharge, Steve returned to Wenatchee. He began work at Keokuk, the silicon metals plant at Rock Island, as an Electrician. He worked there, as the plant changed hands several times, for 30 years. Before his retirement from the silicon metals plant, Steve and Audrey bought land around their home. When the irrigation district expanded to include their property, Steve planted an orchard of both apples and cherries. Lancaster Orchards were in full production by the time Steve retired in 1978. He loved the fruit business, both its pleasures and its demands. Steve elevated most interests in his life from mere curiosity to passion. It is impossible to understand Steve without knowing this fact. In his youth, he developed an enthusiasm for Native American artifacts. Over a 20 year period, long before it became prohibited to do so, he spent countless hours, along with his brothers, combing the banks of the Columbia River, looking for finds. Over the years, he developed a fever for petrified wood, agate and jade. Loaded down with rock in his Trapper Nelson, he cut quite a figure, leaning on his shovel at the base of a hill, resting before the climb to the top with a 100-pound pack. He made jewelry, tables, stone fireplaces and masonry work with rocks he had found. He perfected his lapidary skills and spent many hours cutting and polishing stone. He had a life-long interest in photography, starting with a Brownie in the 1940's, and continuing through the digital age. At various times in his life, he climbed mountains, skied, raced stock cars, built balsa and paper planes, amassed a treasure in antique bottles, collected rare coins, made fishing rods, pitched fast-pitch softball and loaded rounds for his big game rifle. He loved wildlife and close to his dying day, smiled when told of the cottontail rabbit in his backyard by his grandson. Above all, he loved his wife, children, grandchildren and many other people he met along the way. Steve is survived by his wife, Audrey; by his children, Jeanette Griggs of Orondo, Susan Miller of East Wenatchee, Mike Lancaster of Monitor, Peter Lancaster of Seattle, Patricia Sorrentino of Holland, PA and Beverly Odland of Snohomish; and by his three brothers, Joe Lancaster of East Wenatchee, Barnie Lancaster of Waterville and Richard Lancaster of Orondo. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Edward and Emma; son, Stephen; daughter, Karen; granddaughter, Amy; great-granddaughter, Kayla; three brothers, Bill, Wallace and John; and one sister, Marie. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated at 9:30 a.m., Friday, September 25, 2009, at Holy Apostles Catholic Church in East Wenatchee. Concluding Services and Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park in East Wenatchee. Rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, September 24, at Telford's Chapel of the Valley in East Wenatchee. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 24, at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the MS Society.