Sharyl Stevens, 80
Sharyl A. Stevens, 80, Red Oak, passed away on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 at Jennie
Edmundson Hospital, Council Bluffs.
Sharyl Ann Stevens was born Sept. 29, 1945 to Darrell William and Ruth Elizabeth
(Weak) Stevens in Santa Monica, Calif.
Sharyl lived in Venice, Calif. until the age of four when her parents decided to move
back to Iowa to be closer to family. She has lived in Red Oak ever since. At the age of 12,
Sharyl accepted her Lord and Savior while attending church camp and was baptized on Dec.
7, 1958. Sharyl graduated in 1963 from Red Oak High School and furthered her education
and graduated from Iowa Western Community College, Clarinda, in l965.
On Aug. 1, l965, Sharyl began her career as an employee of Montgomery County for the
Montgomery County Sheriff’s office. On June 1, l970, Sharyl was appointed and sworn in as the first female
deputy sheriff for Montgomery County. She graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, Johnston, on
Oct. l4, l977. Sharyl served under four different sheriffs during her career, Chet McCune, Richard E. Harrell,
Marvin E. Meggison and Jefferey H. Smith. She was about to serve under the fifth sheriff but reluctantly retired
from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office after proudly serving Montgomery County for thirty-six and half
years, due to serious injuries sustained from a car-semi traffic accident on Dec. 27, 2000 just north of Maryville,
Mo. Sharyl so enjoyed her job and loved being able to serve and help the citizens of Montgomery County. She
served as secretary when the Montgomery County Crime Stoppers was first organized in l983, and secretary for
Southwest Iowa Peace Officers Association, former member of Iowa State Sheriff’s and Deputies Association
and National Sheriff’s and Deputies Association.
Sharyl had been a Sunday school teacher and loved working with the various youth programs throughout her
life. She had a heart for church camp and was always promoting church camp to kids. Sharyl was adopted by
many children who called her “Aunt”, thus how she became known as “Aunt Sharyl” to many kids, and many
in their adult life still called her “Aunt Sharyl” and passed this down to their children. Later on, other children
adopted her as their “adopted grandma”. On Sept. 10, l996, she became a proud full blooded, honest to goodness
“REAL AUNT” when her nephew Robert William Stevens was born. That was one of the happiest moments in
Sharyl’s life.
Sharyl was a member of Altrusa Club International up until her accident. She loved planting and caring for
her flowers. She enjoyed photography, going to Bible studies, nature, feeding and watching birds and watching
squirrels steal the bird food. Sharyl was a member of Faith Community Church in Red Oak. She was always
eager to help, serve and encourage others around her.
Sharyl was preceded in death by her parents, Ruth Elizabeth (Weak) Stevens on Oct, 17, 1990 and Darrell
William Stevens on Feb, 27, 2001; grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles and several cousins.
Sharyl is survived by her brother, Ronald William Stevens and his wife Nancy of Longmont, Colo.; nephew,
Robert William “Robby” Stevens and partner Margrét Skowronski of Boulder, Colo.; many cousins and friends
and all her adopted nieces, nephews and adopted grandchildren.
May God bless her memory and give strength to those who mourn.
Funeral Service was held on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, at Sellergren Lindell DeMarce Funeral Home, Red Oak.
Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak.
The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers to Faith Community Church Camp Fund, 2701 N. 8th St.
Red Oak, Iowa, or Christ Cupboard Food Pantry 206 E. Coolbaugh St. Red Oak, Iowa.
Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.sldfuneralhome.com
Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home is in charge of Sharyl’s arrangements and serving her family.