Michael Stevens

Michael Stevens was born on September 21, 1923, on a farm near Savage, Minnesota, sixteen miles south of Minneapolis, the son of Martin Edward and Susan Ann (Hart) Stevens. In high school he was active in football, basketball, hockey, and track, demonstrating excellence and talent as the captain of each his senior year. He graduated from Westbrook High School in 1941 and moved to San Diego, California in August of 1941 to work in an aircraft factory building B-24 bombers and attending San Diego State College. In April of 1942 he enlisted in the United States Air Corps. After one year of college at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, he graduated from flying school in 1943. He flew fifty combat missions in B-25 Aircrafts during the European Theater of World War II. After receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and Seven Air Medals, he was discharged from the Air Corps in 1945. He went on to attend and graduate from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1947. He worked as a Minnesota State Policeman in 1948 in Faribault and Albert Lea, Minnesota before voluntarily returning to active duty during the Korean War in 1951. During this period he flew B-29 combat missions over Korea from the island of Guam. After the war he made the decision to remain in the Air Force until retirement. Following this decision, he was assigned to SAC-Strategic Air Command flying B-29's, B-47's and B-52's as part of the Cold War against the Soviets. He volunteered to fly F-4 Phantom Twin Jet Mach2 fighter bombers in Vietnam, stationed at DaNang, receiving Air Medals and the Bronze Star for his service, and then returning to B-52's in SAC in 1967. Colonel Steven's B-52 crew set an Around the World non-stop jet aircraft record in 1957 by flying around the world at the equator in 47 hours 19 minutes, air refueling five times with KC-97 tankers taking on 200,000 pounds of jet fuel during each refueling. General LeMay, Chief of the SAC, presented Colonel Stevens with the Distinguished Flying Cross. Colonel Stevens attended Officer Professional School, Command and Staff College, and Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama, each lasting one year. George Washington University presented the Colonel with a Master's Degree at each college for attending night school for ten months. After retirement in August of 1974, with 32 years of service, Colonel Stevens stayed busy buying and renovating houses in Minneapolis for a few years. Then he had a dairy farm near St. Cloud for two years. After farming he kept busy teaching tax law and Driver Training to adults in addition to income tax counseling for over 25 years as a volunteer. He also assisted 2nd and 3rd grade teachers in class for five years. Colonel Stevens lived in South Minneapolis from 1974-1995, and then moved to his lake home near Park Rapids, MN, continuing to do volunteer teaching and tax counseling. He loved to fish, golf, work with carpentry, and travel in addition to taking care of his lake property. Colonel Stevens passed away on Friday, September 12, 2014, in Sebring, Florida at the age of 90 years. There will be a graveside service with Military Honors on Friday, September 26, 2014, 11:30am at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN. Arrangements entrusted to: Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home of Sebring (863) 385-0125 www.stephensonnelsonfh.com