Stephen McCarthy Hall

“Life is a game like any other game; we just shouldn’t take it as seriously.”

Babe Ruth

Stephen M. Hall, age 72, of Vermillion, South Dakota, died Friday, August 30, 2024, at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, South Dakota.

No local services will be held. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Yankton.

Stephen M. Hall was born in Syracuse, New York, on November 30, 1951. He was the son of George W. Hall Sr. and Lillis E. Hall. He is survived by his dearly loved sister, Cynthia Baril and her husband (Stephen’s best friend) Steven Baril, and his son, Sean Weinstein who is a social worker in Chicago of whom he is very proud of.

Stephen was a free spirit and had a passion for baseball. His love of the game started early with his three brothers: George Jr., Clark and Bryan, playing in their backyard in Syracuse. His love of adventure and traveling also started early as his family moved to San Diego, when he was seven and then back to Syracuse in his early teens. He ran away to the music festival in Woodstock, New York in the summer of 1969.

He loved the mountains and hiked extensively in both the Eastern and Western United States. He spent a summer hiking the Sierra Nevada’s with his dog, Rama. He was a baker in a small town in the Colorado Mountains and lived in a teepee for a while. He was also an excellent carpenter. He played men’s softball throughout his life and eventually had his own team in Boulder, Colorado, which he named the “Mudsharks”. After a few years, they won the city league championship. 

When Steve retired, he moved to Vermillion, South Dakota, with his partner, Megan Skeen. There, they enjoyed a quiet and happy life for the next decade. He loved the Missouri River, the community and the local music. 

Stephen’s legacy is one of adventure, passion, and love. He touched the lives of everyone he knew with his warm, caring, and playful spirit. May he rest in peace, his spirit forever hiking, playing, and loving. Though he will be dearly missed, he lives on in the hearts of the family and friends who loved him.