Steve Hardin lost his battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012, while at home surrounded by loved ones.
     Steve was born on Dec. 20, 1944, in Kirkland, Wash. He was raised in Juanita. He had a love of music that was nurtured in his younger years through his competition accordion playing. He graduated from Juanita High School in 1964. He was married in April of 1964, and started his family right away. Steve was a hard working man and a loving provider for his family all of his life.
     Steve began working with his father for a large developer on the east side of Puget Sound at the age of 15 and began a lifetime of building. He had his own foundation contracting business most of the time and worked his final years as a foreman for Lin Homes. Steve indicated that being the foreman for Dave Moore was the best job he ever had, especially while caring for his ill wife.
     Steve loved to travel and spent his younger years building his way across America with his family. You could drive anywhere in the Puget Sound area and Steve could tell you what he built, who it was built for and when it was built. He literally shaped the housing community of the Puget Sound area and the I-5 corridor.
     After retirement, Steve moved to Okanogan County and renewed a deep love of reading, traveling, exploring and camping. Steve also was blessed to find the gift of love in his last years with the local Okanogan librarian, Lucile Ames. Their relationship brought him much joy and happiness in his last two years.
     He is mourned by his forever best friend, Archie, who never left his side until his death; his loving companion of the last two years, Lucile Ames; his sister, Linda Paap; daughters, Stephanie A. Goings of Mukilteo, Wash., and Lisa M. Ness of Okanogan, Wash.; and his son, Steve J. Hardin of Langley, B.C. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren, 10 nieces and nephews, and his friends and loving church family.
     He was preceded in death by his parents, Olive T. and Benjamin W. Hardin; his wife of 46 years, Judy Jean Granberg Hardin; his brother, Raymond Goings; and his first born son, Thomas Hardin.
     There will be a memorial service to honor Steve’s life at 2 p.m. Feb. 11, 2012, in Okanogan United Methodist Church. A reception follows. To all who knew Steve, please join his family and friends to honor and celebrate his life.
     In remembrance of Steve, donations may be made in his name to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.