Stephen "Steve" Louis LaRusso, age 77, passed away April 5, 2026, in Helena, Montana.  He was born June 25, 1948, in Los Angeles, California, son of the late Kathleen and Louis LaRusso and little brother to Jim.

Steve was drafted into the United States Army in 1968 and served his country honorably during the Vietnam War. He was proud of his military service and was a patriotic veteran throughout his life.

He was a California kid who loved the sun and surf. After returning home from Vietnam, he began his career in transportation management at Union Carbide. This role eventually took him to Butte, MT where he found his true home and met his beloved wife, Cookie. They moved together to Colorado where he worked at Union Carbide and Anheuser Busch before returning to Butte. He was known for his warm smile and friendly disposition to all those around him.

Steve had a deep love of sports that spanned fishing, wrestling, and most importantly, baseball. His heart was Dodger blue, and he found joy in cheering on his team and sharing that passion with family and friends.

Above all, Steve was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his treasured wife of 44 years, Cookie; his four children, Joe (Kim), Jay (Keli), Tina (Brian), and David (Stephanie); his seven grandchildren Shana (Lee), Shelby (Garrett), Justin (Ali), Avery, Brody, Karis, and Derek; two bonus grandchildren Kalee and Cole (Shelby) and four great-grandchildren Axel, Cruz, Jackson, and Ruby.

Steve will be remembered for his strength, loyalty, and the love he gave so freely to his family.

A family memorial will take place later this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Steve's honor to Tunnel to Towers Foundation or St. Jude's Children's Hospital.