Istvan "Steve" Bodor 8-3-1933 to 10-11-2013

Istvan "Steve" Bodor was born in Szeged, Hungary on August 3, 1933. He grew up in the midst of World War II. His parents divorced while he was still a young boy. Raised by his loving mother, Piroska Radai, he often went without food or shoes as he and his mother struggled to survive. At fourteen, he started his training as a Tool and Die Maker. His passion as an adolescent was water polo. Under the Soviet Occupation, he trained in Budapest for the National Water Polo Team but due to unrest in the country was never able to participate internationally. As a young man, he served his mandatory term in the Hungarian Army. In 1956, the government of Hungary revolted against the Occupation. Steve participated in the revolt. When the Soviet Army invaded to put down the revolution, Steve fled for his life. He walked 110 miles without supplies out of Hungary. Due to his skills and training as a Tool and Die Maker, he was one of first Hungarians airlifted as a political refuge to the U.S.A.

Arriving in Minnesota speaking Hungarian, he was able to find employment in his trade teaching himself to speak and read English. Through his love of swimming and water polo, he met his wife of 30 years, Betty Ann, at the local YMCA in Minneapolis. Together they raised four children: Peter John, Sandra Lee, Christine Ann, and Ivan Scott. When the children were small, Steve took a vacation to California. One week later the family moved. Steve worked and lived in Southern California for most his adult life. Although he worked for a variety of companies during his life, he retired from Boeing after 10 years of employment.

Steve and I Jayne met on a Royal Caribbean Cruise in December of 2003. We were married three years later in 2006, and moved to Benton City to be closer to my family. As a young boy, Steve heard about Hanford from Soviet Soldiers...He spoke of imagining sky nets covering Hanford keeping it secret and was excited to move into the area.

Steve was proud to be a US Citizen and took his vow of allegiance to country very seriously. He was thankful to God and to his fellow Americans for the many blessings he received living free in this great country. He was a Fourth degree Knight of Columbus participating in many of their charitable activities and fundraisers in Desert Hot Springs, CA. He was a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics and the Miniature Aircraft Association of Tri-cities, WA. In recent years, he enjoyed having his friends fly his planes at Higgins Field, as his attempts faltered.

His mother, Piroska Radai and his first wife, Betty Ann preceded him in death.

His beloved wife, Jayne Wylie and his loyal canines, Suzie and Rozie, survive him.

Memorial Services will be at the Sunset Memorial Event Center, 915 By-Pass Hwy, Richland at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Steve's name to Higgins Field, P.O. Box 4183, West Richland, WA 99355.