Stephen Lattin Obituary

Stephen "Steve" Lattin

Stephen "Steve" Lattin, 75, of Bayard, NE, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 1, 2025, in Bayard. His funeral service will be held Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 10am at the Alliance Seventh Day Adventist Church in Alliance. Interment will follow at the Alliance City Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 6, at Bridgman Funeral Home in Bridgeport from 5-7pm. It is respectfully requested that in lieu of any flowers, memorials in Steve's honor be made by the donor's choice to help animals in any way. Online condolences may be made by viewing Steve's memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com. Bridgman Funeral Home in Bridgeport is entrusted with arrangements.

Stephen "Steve" Lattin lived a life defined by deep love-for family, land, and community. Born in Alliance, Nebraska, to Joseph E. and Gene E. (Boyce) Lattin, Steve was raised on the family ranch south of Mullen alongside his brothers, Mark and Paul. After the loss of his mother in 1954, his family grew again when his father married Joyce (Maucher) in 1961, welcoming stepsisters Micah and Patricia.

Steve graduated with pride from Mullen High School in 1967, a proud Bronco whose bond with his classmates endured long beyond graduation. He had a passion for football and wrestling which carried him to Chadron State College where he was able to be teammates with his brother Mark. There, fate stepped in-he met Barb Blaney at a trap shooting meet. Their marriage brought them back to the ranch where they raised four children: Becca, Darren, Brett, and Bill.

Steve found joy in the rhythm of ranch life and held a reverent respect for the land and its legacy. But he also carried a deep commitment to public service. His career in law enforcement began with the Chadron Police Department, followed by a meaningful tenure as Hooker County Sheriff. In 1991, he took on the role of Police Chief in Bayard, Nebraska, a move that marked a new chapter in his story.

That chapter included meeting Nolene (Blackstone), whom he married on September 2, 1992. With her came three more children-Chris, Tom, and Suzanne-whom Steve embraced fully, as if they had always been his own. The house was loud, busy, and full of laughter, and he wouldn't have had it any other way.

Steve was the kind of man who made space for others and made them feel like they truly mattered. He never missed a game, never missed a moment, driving countless miles to cheer on his children. He spoke with pride about them wherever he went.

After the sudden passing of his brother and business partner in the ranch, Mark in 1999, Steve remained steadfast in preserving the ranch and its legacy. Even while living in Bayard, he made regular trips to Mullen, ensuring the land stayed in the family. That dream-to return and ranch full time-was finally realized after his retirement from the Morrill County Sheriff's department as a deputy, allowing him to spend a few treasured years ranching with his brother Paul. He hung up the branding irons and spent the last few years doing the woodworking he loved and chasing grandkids alongside Nolene.

Steve was a listener, a protector, and above all, a giver. He never met a stranger, and he had a way of making others feel known. His legacy will live on in the stories he told, the lives he shaped, and the land he loved.

Steve is survived by his wife Nolene; his daughter Becca Lattin of Las Vegas, NV; sons Darren (Christine) Lattin of Livingston, MT, Brett Lattin, and William (Keri) Lattin of Scottsbluff, NE; stepson Chris Bivens; stepdaughter Suzanne Bivens of Bayard, NE; and brother Paul (Percilla) Lattin of Mullen, NE. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, as well as great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, brother Mark, stepsister Patricia Maucher, and stepson Tom Bivens.