Burial will take place in Mapleton Cemetery, Mapleton, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made in Steven’s memory to the Mapleton Cemetery. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.
Steve was born on October 20, 1940 to Ira Eugene and Reitha (Kastl) Sutterby near Mapleton, KS.
He graduated from Kincaid High School in 1958 and went right to work. First as a ranch hand before going to work at Hallmark in Kansas City, MO from 1960-1961. He was employed at Bendix Corp from 1961-1963 then the Ammunition plant in DeSoto, KS.
Steve realized soon he was not a person to want to work inside so he purchased his first dozer in 1967, a 1953 D7. Diesel fuel at the time was only $.09 a gallon.
Steve ran his own dozer doing dirt work around the Wellsville, KS area until 1980 when he went to work for Ron Weers in Louisburg, KS. Then he went on to work 25 years for Doug Peuser, Louisburg, KS. He pushed his last pile of dirt in December 2023 for Hammons Construction, Paola, KS before his health failed.
In 1964, Steve married Esther Bennett in lola, KS; with this union they had a son, Ted Eugene in 1972. This marriage later ended in divorce.
In 1995, the bashful cowboy was introduced to Melodie Skeens. He then acquired 2 girls, Michelle and Marsha.
Steve never met a stranger and loved talking to anyone, especially if it was tractor related, bulldozing, antique cars and tractors or guns.
In his leisure time, he enjoyed antique tractor shows in which he would take his many antique tractors that he restored 5 of, and car shows where he and Mel would participate with their 1936 Plymouth sedan, going out to eat and traveling to visit friends, leatherworking and shooting guns with his son and a Friday or Saturday night dinner date would typically turn into going to check out one of his ponds that he had dug. He should have had it “down pat” after 57 years on a dozer.
In the early days, Steve owned his own Cessna 140 airplane and enjoyed flying around locally. He was an avid hunter and hunted moose in Canada on several occasions.
Steve will be remembered for his dedication, hard work and the love he had for his family and friends. His orneriness and practical jokes will never be forgotten. Dig big on that dozer in the sky. You will be forever missed.
Steve is survived by the love of his life Melodie Skeens, son Ted and his better half (according to Steve) Jen, step daughters Michelle Mellott and Marsha (Darryl) Hammons, his brother David (Betty) Sutterby, brother in- law Ron Sadler, Grandchildren Jacob, Hannah and Brandon Mellott and great granddaughter Zayna. Sister in-law and brother in-law Anita and Mike Brown and nephews Michael Brown (and girls) and Nick (Melissa) Brown and family Numerous niece and nephews and friends.
Steve is preceded in death by his parents, sister Mona Sue Sadler, infant daughter and grandson Lucien Mellott.
Steve was born on October 20, 1940 to Ira Eugene and Reitha (Kastl) Sutterby near Mapleton, KS.
He graduated from Kincaid High School in 1958 and went right to work. First as a ranch hand before going to work at Hallmark in Kansas City, MO from 1960-1961. He was employed at Bendix Corp from 1961-1963 then the Ammunition plant in DeSoto, KS.
Steve realized soon he was not a person to want to work inside so he purchased his first dozer in 1967, a 1953 D7. Diesel fuel at the time was only $.09 a gallon.
Steve ran his own dozer doing dirt work around the Wellsville, KS area until 1980 when he went to work for Ron Weers in Louisburg, KS. Then he went on to work 25 years for Doug Peuser, Louisburg, KS. He pushed his last pile of dirt in December 2023 for Hammons Construction, Paola, KS before his health failed.
In 1964, Steve married Esther Bennett in lola, KS; with this union they had a son, Ted Eugene in 1972. This marriage later ended in divorce.
In 1995, the bashful cowboy was introduced to Melodie Skeens. He then acquired 2 girls, Michelle and Marsha.
Steve never met a stranger and loved talking to anyone, especially if it was tractor related, bulldozing, antique cars and tractors or guns.
In his leisure time, he enjoyed antique tractor shows in which he would take his many antique tractors that he restored 5 of, and car shows where he and Mel would participate with their 1936 Plymouth sedan, going out to eat and traveling to visit friends, leatherworking and shooting guns with his son and a Friday or Saturday night dinner date would typically turn into going to check out one of his ponds that he had dug. He should have had it “down pat” after 57 years on a dozer.
In the early days, Steve owned his own Cessna 140 airplane and enjoyed flying around locally. He was an avid hunter and hunted moose in Canada on several occasions.
Steve will be remembered for his dedication, hard work and the love he had for his family and friends. His orneriness and practical jokes will never be forgotten. Dig big on that dozer in the sky. You will be forever missed.
Steve is survived by the love of his life Melodie Skeens, son Ted and his better half (according to Steve) Jen, step daughters Michelle Mellott and Marsha (Darryl) Hammons, his brother David (Betty) Sutterby, brother in- law Ron Sadler, Grandchildren Jacob, Hannah and Brandon Mellott and great granddaughter Zayna. Sister in-law and brother in-law Anita and Mike Brown and nephews Michael Brown (and girls) and Nick (Melissa) Brown and family Numerous niece and nephews and friends.
Steve is preceded in death by his parents, sister Mona Sue Sadler, infant daughter and grandson Lucien Mellott.
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