Steven Nels Ekstedt

August 31, 1948 ~ September 21, 2012
Steven Nels Ekstedt, age 64, passed away on Friday, September 21 at his home in Lake Havasu City, AZ after a brave battle with cancer.
Steve was born in Lynwood, CA on August 31, 1948 to the late Woodrow and Phebe Palmer Ekstedt. He is a grandson of the late William and Rebecca Stevens Palmer. He spent most of his youth in Huntington Beach, CA, where he graduated from Huntington Beach High School in 1966.
Soon after, Steven joined the United States Army on April 18, 1067. Steven served three years in the Army, obtaining the rank of Staff Sergeant and becoming a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War.
After his military service, Steven returned to Huntington Beach where he continued his education and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law Enforcement. In 1974 he joined the Huntington Beach Police Department and began a 30-year career as a dedicated Police Officer for the city.
Steven was passionate about teaching kids throughout the city about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and was integral in starting the city’s first D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program to help educated K-12 students on how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence-free lives.
Upon retirement, Steven moved to Lake Havasu City, where he became an active member of the Mohave County Sheriff’s Department as a Boating Safety Officer, as well as a member of the department Search and Rescue team.
He loved to spend his free time traveling the country in his fifth wheel, especially throughout Utah, where he would visit family; hunt near Blue Mountain and go house boating on Lake Powell.
Steven is survived by his two sons, Erich (Jade) Ekstedt and Chris (Amber) Ekstedt; three grandchildren, Payton, Samantha and Lily; and many cousins from San Juan County and Salt Lake City. He is also survived by his beautiful dog, Lacy.
Memorial services are to be determined.