LeRoy Melvin Stephen, 72, of Phillipsburg, KS passed away July 1, 2017 at the Phillips
County Hospital.


Leroy was born Jan 3, 1945 in Rooks County, KS to Lewis and Glenys Stephen, 1 of 8
children. When LeRoy was 8 years old he went to live with Charlie and Ruth Groner. The
following year his sister, Lana, also came to live with them. Later on LeRoy and Lana were
adopted by Charlie, Ruth and their son, Chuckie.

LeRoy attended several schools in the area, graduating from Stockton High School in 1963. He was president of his 6th grade class, played center on the basketball team, played baseball and ran track. He was also very active in 4-H for 9 years as recreation leader, president, and received many ribbons on his livestock and his sports outfit. LeRoy joined the Methodist Church in Glade on July 22, 1956. In 1965 he moved his membership to the Stockton Methodist Church, then in April, 1998, he moved his membership to Phillipsburg, where he was still an active member at the time of his passing.


LeRoy was working on the Glen Elder Dam when he and Barb were first married. He
then went to work at the Stockton Lumber Company before joining the Stockton Police
Department, where he was later appointed Chief of Police. LeRoy applied to the Phillipsburg Police Department as a patrolman, but two weeks later found out he was actually hired as the Chief of Police. Later, he was appointed sheriff by the governor to finish an unexpired term from the current sheriff, and continued as sheriff for another 12 years. LeRoy then went to work at Tamko for about 3 years till he was once again appointed by the governor to finish out an unexpired term of the current sheriff, and remained sheriff for another 12 years. After leaving the sheriff's office he worked security for Securitas Security Company, and then worked for Mark DeBey, LLC, as a mail carrier up the time of his passing. He also served as a volunteer firefighter for 35 years and was a member of the Shriners, Masons, Blue Lodge and Phillipsburg Rotary.

He is preceded in death by his parents; adoptive parents; adoptive brother; his brother,
Lawrence Stephen; and his sisters, Loretta Meyer and Lucille Brush.

LeRoy is survived by his wife, Barb; sons, Terry of Ponca City, OK and Gary (Amy) of
Phillipsburg, KS; sisters, Lana (Larry) Odle of Stockton, KS and Lorene (Don) Alexander of
Carmichael, CA; brothers, Lewis Stephen of Hays, KS and Leonard Stephen of Atwood, KS;
grandchildren, Kelsey and friend Kim, Dakota, Skylar, and Karlye; many nieces and nephews; an aunt, Arlene Wolfe of Concordia, KS; and very special friends, Larry and Vernelle Sammons of Phillipsburg, KS, John and Arloa Shaw of Glade, KS, and Roger and Pat Barnes of Colorado Springs, CO.

Cremation is planned. Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 8, 2017 in the United Methodist Church, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Lew Van Der Wege officiating. Inurnment will take place in the Pleasant View Cemetery, Logan.

Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, where the family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. that evening.

Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church or Phillips County Sheriff's Dept. Equipment Fund.