I didn't know Steve in High School but I got the pleasure of meeting him at our class of 71 luncheons. We would meet the second Tuesday of every other month and he was usually the first guy to get there and the last guy to leave. Steve would sit at the end of the table and he seemed to enjoy everyones conversation but didn't really join in unless it was something that sparked his interest.
None of us knew Steve had stomach cancer .He kept it to himself and you would never know he had anything wrong by talking to him because he never complained or even mentioned he was sick. He seemed to be in good spirits all the time. If you didn't get the opportunity to meet Steve you missed out.
Steve we will miss you and there will always be a chair for you my friend... RIP...
Steve and I were classmates in kindergaten at MacDonald Walker School on Jackson Highway. Richard Rudis was in the same class. In fact, we were the last class to be taught at MacDonald Walker School. We attended Sequia Elementary School in Rosemont the following year. We had the same teachers at Sequia Elementary. He used to hang out with George Overose. We somehow drifted apart - maybe because we were both pretty much the same. Likes do tend to repel. I was employed by a private medical laboratory as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist. I ran in to Steve years later while I was employed as a Criminalist - Forensic Toxdicologist at the California Department of Justice Laboratory. He was investigated a possible gabapentin (Neurontin) intoxication.He is not dead, just asleep, awaiting the call.
Steve Lerwill's passing at such a still relatively young age is personally very heartbreaking for me. Knowing someone since you were 5 years old and remaining good friends all the way up to our 50th high school reunion last year is very rare. We were the BEST of buddies from our early Rosemont days having gone to kindergarten at McDonell-Walker School (see pic) then on to the brand new Sequoia Elementary School, continuing to Albert Einstein Junior High School and finally graduating from Hiram Johnson Senior High School. Steve went on to join the California Highway Patrol where he distinguished himself for 33 years to eventually becoming Valley Division Chief before his retirement in December of 2012.
I will miss my dear friend and his memory will stay with me always!
Tim Apple, Rich Rudis. Hi guys! I was saddened to learn of Steve Lerwill's passing. Having known Steve since seventh grade at Albert Einstein Junior High School and throughout high school makes one wonder where all the time has gone. I would have loved to renew my past friendship with Steve but events at the time of our reunion didn't allow for what would have been a miraculous moment of sorts: seeing old friends one last time. I also remember George Overrose. A very handsome man and athlete. I sincerely hope that circumstances will develope where we can perhaps do some more miracle working while we still are physically able. When is the next reunion? But hey! We can always email. Victorrabe2@gmail.com. I would rather talk to you than about you. Rest In Peace, Steve. See you in the next frequency.
I knew Steve in Jr. Hich and in Highschool. He was always a nice guy and always had a smile on his face.
Last time I saw him he was so excited to be going on a long cross country trip in his beautiful truck and his big trailer.
He loved going to our bi monthly pizza gatherings at Romas, and a few other places too. Sorry I wasn't able to see him until a few months ago at Curtis Sharps memorial due to Covid.
He and I like talking about his work and love of the camera, as we were both into photography and had the same cameras. He also spoke about some of his adventures as a CHP Officer and later as a private investigator.
I will miss Steve at out gatherings and will toast him at our next gathering.
Stephen (Steve) Brian Lerwill was born May 2, 1953, at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi. He passed away May 24, 2022 after a brief battle with cancer. He was the first child born to Rayford Arthur Johnson and Ann Katherine Larsen. He was raised the first three years of his life in Alabama. At age 3 he lost his father to a trucking accident. His mother then moved the family to California where her family was from. Ann remarried when Steve was 4 years old. He was then adopted and raised by Joral Page Lerwill. He was followed by 12 siblings. Joral was in the USAF and transferred to Maine for four years when Steve was 12. The family returned to Sacramento when Steve was 17 and he graduated from Hiram Johnson High School and then California State University Sacramento with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Physical Education. He worked as an EMT on an ambulance before joining the California Highway Patrol in 1979. In 1987, Steve worked a temporary assignment with the District Attorney’s Office, where he met Betty Valle. They just celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary and Steve’s 69th birthday. Steve was blessed with four children; Jennifer (Tom Thorp), Annie, Ronald (Bobbi), Jessica (Jeff Larcom). Steve and Betty have 12 grandchildren; Makayla, Kaelyn, Bailey, Davis, Jordan, Ronald lll, Daniel, Garrett, Graden, Kayla, Ian and Jesse. He worked hard and was dedicated to his service in the CHP for 34 years. He spent his first 10 years in the CHP as a Traffic Officer, promoting in 1989 to Sergeant. In 1995, he promoted to Lieutenant in the Investigative Services Unit. In 2001, he promoted to Captain, in charge of the Stockton office. In March 2006, he promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief within the Planning and Analysis Division. In 2008, he promoted to Chief and was assigned to the Office of the Assistant Commissioner. In November 2009, Chief Lerwill was appointed Valley Division Chief where he served three years prior to his retirement in December 2012. Six months after retirement, Steve started SBL Investigations, a private investigative business. Betty joined him on a few stakeouts. Steve also served as Scoutmaster for Troop 288 and mentored many young men to the rank of Eagle Scout, including his son. Steve and Betty enjoyed family vacations when the kids were younger. Later they took annual monthlong vacations, celebrating their anniversary and Steve’s birthday every May. Steve was proud of the many states he lived in during his childhood and he and Betty had just been to visit places he lived 60 years ago. Besides his wife, children and grandchildren, Steve is survived by siblings Dara (Steve) Wilson, Kathy (Steve) Fengel, Michelle (Dan) Butler, Susan, Mona, Kathleen, Anna (Bryan) Taggert, Alicia Lerwill, many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws. Steve is also survived by his former wife, Lori Pickard Osborne, and many lifelong friends and family. Steve was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers, 2 sisters, a nephew, 2 nieces and mother-in-law Maria Valle.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,8925 Vintage Park Drive, Sacramento, CA. A private family viewing will be held at 9:00am, followed by a memorial service at 10:00am. Interment will be held at 11:30 am at the East Lawn Memorial Park,9189 East Stockton Blvd, Elk Grove, CA. Appropriate Hawaiian attire welcome.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the CHP Widows and Orphans Fund.
So sad to hear about Steve's passing. Like several that have posted, I went through 4th grade to our senior year at HJ with him. I hadn't seen Steve for many years when our paths crossed at event downtown when he was leading the CHP. Such a great guy in so many ways. When I could make the pizza lunches it was always nice to see and speak with him.
It is so sad to see our classmates pass at such a young age. RIP Steve - you will be missed.
Rick Shepard
I didn't know Steve in High School but I got the pleasure of meeting him at our class of 71 luncheons. We would meet the second Tuesday of every other month and he was usually the first guy to get there and the last guy to leave. Steve would sit at the end of the table and he seemed to enjoy everyones conversation but didn't really join in unless it was something that sparked his interest.
None of us knew Steve had stomach cancer .He kept it to himself and you would never know he had anything wrong by talking to him because he never complained or even mentioned he was sick. He seemed to be in good spirits all the time. If you didn't get the opportunity to meet Steve you missed out.
Steve we will miss you and there will always be a chair for you my friend... RIP...
Timothy Appel
Steve and I were classmates in kindergaten at MacDonald Walker School on Jackson Highway. Richard Rudis was in the same class. In fact, we were the last class to be taught at MacDonald Walker School. We attended Sequia Elementary School in Rosemont the following year. We had the same teachers at Sequia Elementary. He used to hang out with George Overose. We somehow drifted apart - maybe because we were both pretty much the same. Likes do tend to repel. I was employed by a private medical laboratory as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist. I ran in to Steve years later while I was employed as a Criminalist - Forensic Toxdicologist at the California Department of Justice Laboratory. He was investigated a possible gabapentin (Neurontin) intoxication. He is not dead, just asleep, awaiting the call.
Richard Rudis
Steve Lerwill's passing at such a still relatively young age is personally very heartbreaking for me. Knowing someone since you were 5 years old and remaining good friends all the way up to our 50th high school reunion last year is very rare. We were the BEST of buddies from our early Rosemont days having gone to kindergarten at McDonell-Walker School (see pic) then on to the brand new Sequoia Elementary School, continuing to Albert Einstein Junior High School and finally graduating from Hiram Johnson Senior High School. Steve went on to join the California Highway Patrol where he distinguished himself for 33 years to eventually becoming Valley Division Chief before his retirement in December of 2012.
I will miss my dear friend and his memory will stay with me always!.jpg)
Victor Rabe (Rabe)
Tim Apple, Rich Rudis. Hi guys! I was saddened to learn of Steve Lerwill's passing. Having known Steve since seventh grade at Albert Einstein Junior High School and throughout high school makes one wonder where all the time has gone. I would have loved to renew my past friendship with Steve but events at the time of our reunion didn't allow for what would have been a miraculous moment of sorts: seeing old friends one last time. I also remember George Overrose. A very handsome man and athlete. I sincerely hope that circumstances will develope where we can perhaps do some more miracle working while we still are physically able. When is the next reunion? But hey! We can always email. Victorrabe2@gmail.com. I would rather talk to you than about you. Rest In Peace, Steve. See you in the next frequency.Scott Schaffner
I knew Steve in Jr. Hich and in Highschool. He was always a nice guy and always had a smile on his face.
Last time I saw him he was so excited to be going on a long cross country trip in his beautiful truck and his big trailer.
He loved going to our bi monthly pizza gatherings at Romas, and a few other places too. Sorry I wasn't able to see him until a few months ago at Curtis Sharps memorial due to Covid.
He and I like talking about his work and love of the camera, as we were both into photography and had the same cameras. He also spoke about some of his adventures as a CHP Officer and later as a private investigator.
I will miss Steve at out gatherings and will toast him at our next gathering.
R.I.P. Friend
Scott Schaffner
Robert A. (Butch) Wilson
Stephen (Steve) Brian Lerwill was born May 2, 1953, at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi. He passed away May 24, 2022 after a brief battle with cancer. He was the first child born to Rayford Arthur Johnson and Ann Katherine Larsen. He was raised the first three years of his life in Alabama. At age 3 he lost his father to a trucking accident. His mother then moved the family to California where her family was from. Ann remarried when Steve was 4 years old. He was then adopted and raised by Joral Page Lerwill. He was followed by 12 siblings. Joral was in the USAF and transferred to Maine for four years when Steve was 12. The family returned to Sacramento when Steve was 17 and he graduated from Hiram Johnson High School and then California State University Sacramento with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Physical Education. He worked as an EMT on an ambulance before joining the California Highway Patrol in 1979. In 1987, Steve worked a temporary assignment with the District Attorney’s Office, where he met Betty Valle. They just celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary and Steve’s 69th birthday. Steve was blessed with four children; Jennifer (Tom Thorp), Annie, Ronald (Bobbi), Jessica (Jeff Larcom). Steve and Betty have 12 grandchildren; Makayla, Kaelyn, Bailey, Davis, Jordan, Ronald lll, Daniel, Garrett, Graden, Kayla, Ian and Jesse. He worked hard and was dedicated to his service in the CHP for 34 years. He spent his first 10 years in the CHP as a Traffic Officer, promoting in 1989 to Sergeant. In 1995, he promoted to Lieutenant in the Investigative Services Unit. In 2001, he promoted to Captain, in charge of the Stockton office. In March 2006, he promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief within the Planning and Analysis Division. In 2008, he promoted to Chief and was assigned to the Office of the Assistant Commissioner. In November 2009, Chief Lerwill was appointed Valley Division Chief where he served three years prior to his retirement in December 2012. Six months after retirement, Steve started SBL Investigations, a private investigative business. Betty joined him on a few stakeouts. Steve also served as Scoutmaster for Troop 288 and mentored many young men to the rank of Eagle Scout, including his son. Steve and Betty enjoyed family vacations when the kids were younger. Later they took annual monthlong vacations, celebrating their anniversary and Steve’s birthday every May. Steve was proud of the many states he lived in during his childhood and he and Betty had just been to visit places he lived 60 years ago. Besides his wife, children and grandchildren, Steve is survived by siblings Dara (Steve) Wilson, Kathy (Steve) Fengel, Michelle (Dan) Butler, Susan, Mona, Kathleen, Anna (Bryan) Taggert, Alicia Lerwill, many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws. Steve is also survived by his former wife, Lori Pickard Osborne, and many lifelong friends and family. Steve was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers, 2 sisters, a nephew, 2 nieces and mother-in-law Maria Valle.
Joe Manos (Manos)
So sad to hear about Steve's passing. Like several that have posted, I went through 4th grade to our senior year at HJ with him. I hadn't seen Steve for many years when our paths crossed at event downtown when he was leading the CHP. Such a great guy in so many ways. When I could make the pizza lunches it was always nice to see and speak with him.
It is so sad to see our classmates pass at such a young age. RIP Steve - you will be missed.
Steve Saucedo
Here's the notice of Steve's passing, posted today on the Sacramento Bee's Legacy page:
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sacbee/name/stephen-lerwill-obituary?id=34976064
R.I.P.
Victor Rabe (Rabe)
Oh my gosh! Steve looks like I remember him back in the day. What a wonderful family life he certainly had.