About Us

Stephen was born and raised in Rexburg, Idaho in the Upper Snake River Valley near Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. His father was coach, dean of students, teacher, and administrator at Ricks College during the school year and a ranger naturalist in Yellowstone Park during the summers. Stephen spent each summer of his youth in Yellowstone. He is an unabashed lover of nature, animals, and hiking. Stephen's mother was a teacher of children's literature at Ricks College. From her he gained a love for literature, reading, poetry, and writing. Stephen graduated from Madison High School and then served a 27-month mission for the Mormon Church in Berlin, Germany (1964-1967). He attended Ricks College and graduated with a B.A. degree from Brigham Young University. Later towards the end of his military career, Stephen obtained a Master's Degree in counseling psychology.

High School Sweethearts

Elaine Robinson was also born in Rexburg. Elaine grew up a country girl in a small town called Newdale, Idaho. Her parents owned and operated a small country store, and Elaine grew up working in the store and pumping gas. She has a love for accounting and a strong business acumen. Elaine graduated from Sugar-Salem High School and then from Ricks College and Brigham Young University. She loves singing, playing the piano, all kinds of music, out-of-doors, and especially sunshine. She has a special affinity for serving and helping people.

45 Years Later

We were married in the Idaho Falls L.D.S. temple on 28 June 1968. Upon graduation from BYU, Stephen was immediately commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, and we spent the next twenty years of our lives serving our country and Corps. We have lived in many places in the United States, Hawaii, Okinawa, Japan, and have traveled extensively. 

Upon retirement from the Marine Corps, Stephen served another twenty years as a therapist and administrator in the mental health and addictions field. He wrote and published addiction recovery programs for Hazelden Educational Services and did national lectures for several years. He also served as dean of students at Southern Virginia University. 

Elaine works part-time as a secretary at the Church's Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. Stephen is a bishop of a student ward at Brigham Young University, and enjoys writing, painting, woodburning (pyrography), and reading.