PAUL HAMBY
Steven Studer kept to himself for most of his life, but before his death in March he planned on having some company.
The veteran of the U.S. Army who served in Operation Desert Storm lived on several acres tucked into the mountains near Nye. He raised cattle while living in a dirt-floor home that he built himself, and wanted to turn his ranch into a destination for those leaving the military and transitioning to civilian life. A fatal wreck in March cut that ambition short.
Studerâs aim to assist military service members is now realized through his surviving family and an organization dedicated to transitioning veterans. His sister, Susan Sikora, used funds gathered by the sale of his estate to make a $200,000 donation to the COMMIT Foundation. Based in Bozeman, the nonprofit has helped guide thousands of veterans into new careers post-service.