Steven Don Spainhower

On the Sabbath morning of May 31, 2026 in St. George, Utah, Steven Don Spainhower returned to the loving arms of his Savior at 9:59 a.m. after a hard fought battle with cancer. He was 69. 

Steven was born November 1, 1956 in Payson, Utah, to parents Donald Ernest Spainhower and Evelyn Janice Wheelock, the third of six children. He was raised in Bountiful and South Ogden, Utah, and then Lompoc, California. He attended Bonneville and Lompoc High Schools. 

After receiving an excellent score on the language aptitude test to prepare for missionary service, Steven was called to serve in the Finland Helsinki Mission. His mission was always remembered as the best time of his life; free to focus on serving people and teaching the Gospel. Steven was a linguist and spoke Finnish, Russian, German, Spanish and Portuguese. 

Steven valued education. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Weber State University, a master’s degree from Brigham Young University, and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic. 

Steven married Linda Kay Arave in 1982 in the Ogden Utah Temple. During their 32-year marriage together, they raised five children, whom he loved to introduce as “all boys but four!” Steven’s sense of humor, great smile, love of education and athletics, musical inclination, and ear for language were proudly inherited by his children. 

Steven married Rita de Cassia Santana in March of 2022. They enjoyed four years together, sharing a love of the Gospel and caring for pigeons. Steve and Rita were sealed in the St. George Utah Temple. 

Steven had many gifts and interests that served him well in his professional pursuits as a teacher, coach, scripture translation supervisor, author, and Chiropractic physician. Steven always placed importance on personal development, and brought the principles of Stephen R. Covey and Dale Carnegie into his own work and family life. 

Steven filled his life with praiseworthy hobbies and interests. He was passionate about athletics and always loved college basketball and football. He loved raising homing pigeons since childhood. He flew them for events and raced them competitively. He was particularly proud of his pigeon’s big win in the 2026 Spring Break races, and of his All-Church basketball trophy and his Eagle Scout award. Steven loved the Gospel. He shared his time and talents through missionary work and serving in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

Steven is survived by his wife, Rita de Cassia Spainhower, and stepson, Pedro Xavier; his former wife, Linda Spainhower, and their children Stephanie Spainhower, Andrew Spainhower (Mallory), Audrey Dunshee (Luke), Elise Clark (Nic), Moriah Washburn (Troy), and their 7 grandchildren, Fitz, Cohen, and Luka Spainhower, Jonah and July Dunshee, Zelda Clark and Baby Girl Washburn, coming mid-June 2026. He is also survived by his father and stepmother, Don and Karen Spainhower, and siblings Ann Scott (Harry, late husband), Bonnie Anderson (Jean), Judith Hooper (Kerry), David Spainhower (Sherry), Michael Spainhower (Stacey), and half-siblings, Guy, Kristine (Wendy) and Aaron Spainhower, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his mother, Janice Wheelock.