In loving memory of Stephen Newman Putnam January 27, 1932 — September 18, 2022
Stephen married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Bengtzen, in the Salt Lake Temple on March 2, 1953, and thus began the greatest adventure of his life. Together they had eight children, each of whom they taught to work hard and love and care for one another. Stephen, always the entrepreneur, tried several careers, from mortician to car and vacuum salesman, from owner of a carpet store and boat store to selling and installing swimming pools throughout the Salt Lake Valley. He found his niche when he founded The Sportsman’s Club of America, offering hunting, fishing and other outdoor adventures to hundreds of members over the years.
In 1966, Stephen and Shirley bought Spirit Lake Lodge, their summer home and “dude ranch”. The family worked hard to care for customers and visitors, providing horseback rides and pack trips, boating, fishing and hunting. From chopping wood for stoves in cabins, to wrangling and shoeing horses, repairing tack, cleaning cabins and outhouses, among many other chores, the Putnam children, and many other young people, learned to work and play together in the high Uinta Mountains. Shirley cooked and served homemade food including bread and hamburger buns and cinnamon rolls all baked in a wood-burning stove. Family members still camp at Spirit Lake each year, enjoying great adventures in the mountains they love.
Sportsmans Club of America is now owned and operated by Stephen’s grandson, Stephen Lee Putnam.