Stephen M. Bishop passed away on Sept. 23, 2013. Stephen was born in Elko, Nev., on Jan. 22, 1947, to Harry and Enid Bishop. He was raised at Goldacres Mine in Lander County where he completed his elementary school education in a one-room schoolhouse in the Raleigh School District. Stephen graduated from high school at Wasatch Academy in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, and earned an Associate's Degree in Agriculture from the University of Nevada. He worked a short time for a BLM fire crew before being hired at age 21 as a deputy to Sheriff George Schwin, which was the beginning of a 30-year career in law enforcement.
He was a deputy in Battle Mountain, Austin, McDermitt and Winnemucca. He served as undersheriff for Humboldt and Lander counties.
He graduated from the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., and served as Sheriff of Lander County for eight years. During his two terms as sheriff, he successfully led the project to build a new Lander County Law Enforcement Complex in Battle Mountain, which was subsequently dedicated in his name. Stephen had a colorful and interesting career; he served as Brand Inspector from 1973 to 1988, drove truck for Jaca Trucking while in McDermitt, and "He worked a lot of cases; He chased down a lots of crooks; And tho' he never did catch Dallas, he got mentioned in two books."
In April of 1982, Stephen married Ruth Montgomery, with whom he was "head over heels in love" for 31 years. They have two children, Heath and Hailey. In 1996, they moved to Elko where Stephen was part of security leadership for Newmont. He served his last five years in law enforcement as undersheriff to Neil Harris of Elko.
Stephen and Ruth enjoyed their joint retirements, family, grandchildren, friends, cooking, camping, fishing, wood carving, and migrating to Lake Havasu each winter.
Stephen is survived by his wife Ruth; son Heath (Christen Barnum), Copperas Cove, Texas; daughter Hailey (Mark Bogue); granddaughters, Zoey and Mazey, Elko; sisters Kathy (George Ancho), Battle Mountain, Pat Bishop, Spokane, Wash., and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, brother Pete Bishop, nephew Christopher Bishop. Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Sewell Dr., Elko, at 2 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30, 2013.
"We all thank you Steve, for the work that you have done, but mostly for the memories...they are truly special ones."[[In-content Ad]]
