Stephanie Willa Roller Bruner

Steph, you were a good person, friend and co-worker.  I will always remember you as being full of life and beautiful in every way.  Rest in Peace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I only met Steph once and it was a beautiful summer day in Redwood Falls.  Me and my kids, along with Cari, her children, Cathy and our friend Kristin and her kids and Steph and her three children went to Ramsey Park in Redwood for a picnic and then to the Redwood Falls Water Park.  It was so fun watching Cari and Steph take turns on the diving boards trying to "one up" each other!  I was incredibly impressed with the twists, turns, flips and dives that Steph managed to execute off the board!  She definitely knew how to live life and enjoyed every minute of it!  I feel truly blessed that I was able to meet Steph and enjoy her company on that beautiful summer day!  Steph's memory will live on in my memories every time I see a diving board!! 

I didn't know Stephanie nearly as well or as long as I would have liked to. My husband recalls that every time I did spend time with her I would say "I really like her, we should hang out more." When I saw her this past summer I remember how great she looked and how happy she was to be focusing more on dancing.

My favorite memory of Stephanie, strangely enough, is from this morning. My 3-year old son, after requesting countless viewings of the video clip of her dancing like Austen Powers, has been doing the "Stephanie Dance" all morning. As close to a Stephanie "mini-me" as a unrelated small boy could be. In the midst of all his twirling and leaping he said "Mom, dancing is really fun."  I can almost see her broad, beautiful smile right now.

I will always remember Stephanie as being larger than life.  She loved to laugh and goof around and always seemed to make things fun (see the photo below -- it has always been one of my favorites). 

 

We were sorority sisters in college and Steph stood out because she was light hearted and positive.  She brought people together (and she is still bringing people together in death -- THANKS Steph!).  I was impressed by how close she and Aaron were -- it was really inspirational.

 

We took a trip white water rafting in college, and although I don't seem to have a single photograph of the adventure I have often thought about that trip and how much fun we had -- not just on the water, but in the car on the way up. 

 

Thanks for the memories Steph.  I will always remember you and your zest for life and the outdoors.

 

Seeing the picture of Mrs. Hahn's 2nd grade class brought back the memory of our Nutcracker play that Christmas.  Stephanie was Clara, I was the Mouse King, I think Ty Vance was the nutcracker/prince.  I remember Toni Peterson being one of the mice.  The funny thing was, it wasn't until years later, hanging out together in Colorado, that either of us remembered the other being in it.

 

Steph, you're so deeply missed.  Last summer's chance meeting in Redwood Falls seems like yesterday, and now its the last memory I'll have of you.  I thank God we at least got to say some semblance of goodbye, even if it wasn't supposed to be forever.  Thanks for being a lifelong friend!