On Monday, January 31, 2022, at the age of 94, Stella Donovan Cheek joined her beloved husband, Merle, in Heaven.
Stella was the first child born to Francis and Mamie (Lyon) Donovan on March 12, 1927, in Phillips County, KS. Her parents had three children in three years, all born in March. Due to drought and repeated crop failures, the Donovan family was encouraged by others to move to Colorado and they did. They first lived in Coal Creek Canyon above Denver, then to a small ranch near Grover, then Gill, and after a few more moves they returned to the Grover area and by 1939 welcomed four more children. Over the years the Donovan family made other moves around Colorado.
When Stella was young she did not have the opportunity to attend church so her mother taught the children that they should strive to please Jesus by being kind, obedient, helpful and live for Him. Later on, Stella had a Christian teacher named Loraine who was a wonderful role model and friend as she grew up. In 1942, Stella went forward at a revival meeting and trusted Christ as her Savior.
Stella attended grade school at Barnesville and high school in Grover, Greeley and Briggsdale. After graduating Stella received an emergency teaching certificate so she taught in rural schools right out of high school. She attended summer school then enrolled in Rockmont College (now Colorado Christian University) in Denver.
While in college, Stella met Merle Cheek, a student a year ahead of her. It was his love for the Lord that brought them together as friends. In December 1950, under a gentle falling snow, Merle proposed to Stella. They were united in marriage on June 27, 1951, and their love kept them together for 70 years.
As Stella and Merle were finishing college, they lost their first child due to a premature birth. They moved to South Dakota for a short time to help with a small Christian high school (Stella was dorm mother and cook) but returned to Steamboat Springs. Over the years they welcomed four more children and raised their family in Steamboat Springs. They were members of Euzoa Bible Church where Stella was involved with teaching Sunday School, conducting Children's Church, was Christian Education Director, and attended Women's Fellowship.
In 1969, the Cheeks bought the inventory of a Bible bookstore and started 'Bible, Book and Gift Shop' right out of their home. Stella was the owner/manager for over 18 years and had the privilege of serving several small towns in the area with Bibles and Sunday School supplies.
Their son, George, and Dr. Ivan E. Olsen approached Stella and Merle and invited them to Maranatha Bible Camp as retiree volunteers in 1987. Stella was given the opportunity to be a manager of the gift shop and she had the privilege of doing so for 20 years. She continued volunteering in her later years in the kitchen laundry, doing a small but helpful job.
Stella enjoyed good health all her years and was able to take life one day at a time with the help of the Lord.
Stella was preceded in death by her husband and infant daughter; her parents, Francis and Mamie Donovan; brothers, Walter, Paul and Clyde Donovan; and sister, Lois Grouns.
She is survived by her sons, George (Janice) Cheek of Maxwell and Warren (Carol) Cheek of LaGrange, WY; daughters, Lavon Cheek of Steamboat Springs, CO and Donna (Gary) Mahnken of North Platte; grandchildren, Kris (Natalie) Cheek, Tara (Jeff) Kautz, Silas (Amanda) Cheek, Elaine (Nora) Cheek, Charissa (Ethan) Cole, Michael (Cassandra) Mahnken and Katie Mahnken; great-grandchildren, Taylor, Jocelyn, Kristyn, Kristopher, Josiah, Kate, Emma, Isaac, Isabella, and Maddox; her sisters, Ellie (Tony) Nass of Mankato, MN, and Mamie Johnson of George, IA; sister-in-law, Shirley Donovan of Beaver City; as well as many other family.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at the Maxwell Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Plainview Cemetery. Visitation is prior to the service at the church. The memorial book may be signed online at odeanchapel.com or at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to Maranatha Bible Camp at 16800 East Maranatha Rd, Maxwell, NE, 69151, or maranathacamp.org.