J. Steven Fargo

Rev. Dr. Jerald Steven Fargo, born in Nampa, Idaho, peacefully passed away with family and his pastor by his side on the 10 th of October, 2024 at the age of 76 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. We mourn our beloved Steve.

He will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed by his wife of 50 years, Flora Linda Fargo, daughter, Jerilyn Donna Fargo Christian, grandson, Benjamin Alexander Christian, brother, James Keith Fargo, sister-in-law, Stephanie Shell Fargo, in-laws Jim and Helen Reimer, in-laws Andrew and Barbara Taggart, cousins, Barbara Fargo Bissell and family, Shirley Fargo, Anita Fargo and many nieces, nephews, great- nieces, and great nephews and by his many friends.

Steve is preceded in death by his parents, James Junior Fargo and Zola Rose Milbourne Fargo, his in- laws, Kenneth Alexander Stark and Anne Scheel Stark, sister-in-law, Helen Wood Fargo and in-laws John Kenneth Stark and Linda Dobbs Stark.

A quintessentially forgetful professor, full of kindness, humor and wisdom, Steve loved to travel, write, study God’s Word, follow the news, play his keyboard, greet passers-by, and visit with all who would listen. He was a faithful, eccentric man who loved Jesus and his family. Following his miraculous drowning recovery at 20, he dedicated his life to God’s service. His lifelong motto was Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Steve attended Mountain View Union Academy, Northwest Nazarene University, Chadron State College (BS in Education), Nazarene Theological Seminary (MDiv). Ordained by the Church of the Nazarene, Steve pastored in both the U.S. and Canada. Later, he studied at Point Loma University (MA and Ed Specialist), while Linda earned her BSN. After both graduated, Steve continued his doctoral program at Northern Arizona University (Ed.D.). Steve was the primary author of English As Your Second Language (10 videos with a workbook) for A.C.E. School of Tomorrow in 1993, and he taught ESL in the Dallas, Texas Metroplex for many years. He joked that he never did finish school. After moving to the Coeur d’ Alene area, he continued substitute teaching. Steve loved to teach, and students often said he was their favorite teacher. During this time, he published Glorious Freedom: What I Learned from Richard Taylor (2017), The Voice of Whispering Hope: The Life and Message of T.W. Stofer (2018); The Beat of a Different Drummer (2020) and Heaven's Salt Shaker: Life on the Run - and God Meant It for Good (2022) on Amazon. He will be greatly missed.

J. Steven Fargo’s Memorial Service will be held at True North Church of the Nazarene in Hayden, Idaho on November 2, 2024 at 2pm. A Time of fellowship and remembrance will follow. In remembrance of J. Steven Fargo’s life, the family requests charitable donations be sent to Strategic Indigenous Missions, True North Church of the Nazarene for Missions, or to the family. Strategic Indigenous Missions: https://simissions.org/financial-support/ True North Church of the Nazarene: https://tnnazarene.churchcenter.com/giving and note “Steve Fargo for Missions” on the memo line

For those who cannot attend in person, the service will be posted on both YouTube and Facebook. Simply search for "True North Church Hayden" on the date of the service or click on the links below. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/truenorthchurchnaz/videos/476463688114652 Or YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq9pueYGqA0