Steven L. Gilbert

Steven L. Gilbert, devoted husband and father, passed away peacefully Nov. 23, 2025. Steve lived heroically with the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s for 18 years, but it never daunted his loving spirit and sense of humor. Steve was a gentle giant and leaves a legacy of strength during trial, humor in hard times and an enduring love of God, family and ice cream.  

He was born June 19, 1958, in Roosevelt, Utah, to Jack and Arlene Gilbert, and from his earliest years, he worked hard on the family farm in Royal City, Wash. At Royal High School, he was Senior Class President, played football and was a daredevil on his motorcycle.  

He served a mission in New Zealand for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he loved the countryside, which reminded him of home. 

When he was 22, before leaving on a ski trip to Provo, Utah, Steve told his parents that he was going to Utah to find a wife. While skiing, he broke his knee and ended up in the hospital, where, on the last day of his stay, he was assigned a beautiful nurse who stole his heart. He got her name from the hospital chart and tracked her down. One week after their first date, he proposed to Susan Taylor. They were sealed in the Salt Lake City temple June 25, 1980. 

Steve had an enduring love of airplanes and earned his pilot’s license soon after marrying. After graduating from Weber State with a degree in mechanical engineering, he worked for Boeing and helped build the 777 plane. A career shift took Steve and Sue back to the Royal Slope, where they built a home, and Steve sold advanced farming equipment. His love of planes continued, and he purchased his own plane, traveling with Sue all over the Northwest. 

A dedicated family man, he attended hundreds of sporting events for his kids, rarely missing one. Returning home from business trips, he would often drive through the night to avoid one more night away from his family. Steve and Sue started a family business, Day Camp Crafts, to teach their kids the value of hard work, which the family operated for over 15 years. Countless memories were also made on the family boat at Lake Roosevelt.  

Steve was known as a jack-of-all-trades, earning him the nickname “MacGyver” by family friends who were amazed when he used a gum wrapper to bypass a faulty breaker to turn the power on at a remote cabin. After Steve’s diagnosis, Sue was his angel caregiver and rarely left his side. Knowing that time was limited with Steve’s health, they fit in many adventures, including an LDS mission to San Jose, trips to Guatemala, New Zealand, Jamaica, Hawaii, China and countless trips to visit grandchildren.  

Steve is survived by his eternal companion, Susan Gilbert, children Angie Ward (Mark), Cory Gilbert (Lori), Dustin Gilbert (Jessica) and Brian Gilbert (Ashley), 18 grandchildren, brothers Lamar Gilbert (Pam), Rick Gilbert (Joan) and David Gilbert (Debbie). Preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Wendy Fielding (Lynn).  

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, at noon at the Royal City, Wash., chapel. Family and friends may attend a viewing from 11-11:45 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will be at the Royal Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held Dec. 12, 2025, at 7 p.m. at the LDS chapel on 1080 West Arlington St., Washington, Utah.