Stephen Michael Matule

Born on April 1, 1934, in Butte, Montana, Steve grew up in a city of extremes—great wealth and near poverty. His father was a miner. Steve started delivering papers at age eight and often worked more than one job at a time to make it possible for him to graduate from college. Baseball was Steve’s thing. He started playing with the neighbor kids in Dublin Gulch. Continued at St. Mary’s School. Graduated to the American Legion team where he was a third baseman who specialized in “knocking ’em out of the park.” When he was a senior at Butte Boy’s Central, Hank Anderson came to Butte to personally offer him a baseball scholarship at Gonzaga University. Steve had a stellar freshman season—ended up with a batting average of 428. Heavily scouted by the majors, he got a contract offer from the Detroit Tigers. (His Gonzaga coach told him, “Finish your education first—the baseball job will always be there for you.”) As it turned out, he waited. And that summer he had a mine accident that “took away the edge” he had in his arm. Good-bye majors. Steve did play in the minor league in Butte for several seasons where he once played against Satchel Paige. On July 12, 2003, Steve was inducted into the Butte Baseball Hall of Fame. For the majority of his adult life, he worked in the insurance industry. On May 4, 1968, Steve was presented with the Allstate Honor Ring at their National Conference of Champions at the Hotel Del Corando. For twenty years he had his own agency in Lakewood, WA. During all those years he was active in Rotary and for one year was President of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce. After he sold his agency, he moved to Chelan where the family had vacationed for twenty years at Lake Chelan Shores. Declining health brought him to Wenatchee where he was a substitute teacher at the Eastmont School District schools until, at age 85, Covid closed the schools. Steve was the ultimate family man—father of two, much-loved daughters—grandfather of three grandsons—great-grandfather of three. He was absolutely delighted that he was able to hold babies Kieran, Emmie, and Harry before he passed. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Steve and Ann Matule, and his daughter Michele (Cenotto). He is survived by his wife, Darlene, his daughter Stephanie (Larry) DeGagne, his grandson Jake Ness, his grandsons Larry Cenotto (Katey, great-grandson Harry) and Sean Cenotto (Catherine, great-grandson Kieran, and great-granddaughter Emmie) sisters Rose Phyfield and Dodi Andrews. And numerous nieces and nephews and their children and great-grandchildren. The family wants to thank Hospice for their much-needed support. His wife says, “I couldn’t have done it without Hospice. Many thanks to each and every nurse who helped me through those tough times.”

Stephen Michael Matule

April 1, 1934 - January 20, 2024