After a lifetime of living at 41 different addresses across 17 states and five countries, Stephen Lech knew one thing: wherever he lived next, it had to feel like home.
“I’m a roamer. I graduated from Dickinson in 1955, and in ’56 I went into the Army. I’ve lived in 17 states and five foreign countries.”
Stephen has seen all 50 states and more than 30 countries. No matter how far he went, he always carried the idea of home with him. That sense of comfort and community eventually brought him back to Dickinson, North Dakota, where he moved into a cottage at Edgewood Hawks Point—finding a place that felt just right for this chapter of his life.
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Born the 13th of 14 children, Stephen grew up in a big family. Faith, travel, and service shaped his life.
In 1964, while serving in the Air Force, friends introduced him to the woman who would become his wife.
Together, they raised two sons, traveled the world, and shared more than 50 years of marriage built on love and faith.
“At the time, I thought, I have 11 sisters—I have all the women in my life that I need,” he recalls. “But ten seconds after our first dance, I knew my bachelor life was over. Two months later, we were married. They gave us six months—but 53 years later, they were still eating crow.”
Stephen’s military career took him all over the world, giving him new challenges and friendships at every stop. He served in the Air Force, the Army, the National Guard, and later in the Civil Service for the Department of Defense and the Air Guard. While in the 7th Infantry Division, Stephen was sent to Korea.
He also traveled to Germany, and it quickly became a favorite. Near Nuremberg, he worked as chief engineer for a radio affiliate and managed 21 transmitter sites across Bavaria. “I saw Germany through the windshield,” he jokes.
Stephen grew up speaking a German-Hungarian dialect, and his language skills grew even stronger during his time in Germany. He loved the country’s family-focused culture and even “adopted” local families as his own. His adventures didn’t stop there—he also spent time in Kentucky and Mississippi, and he lived for 10 months in St. Petersburg, Russia, near Putin’s residence, while working as an ordained preacher.
After his wife passed away in 2017, Stephen felt drawn back to Dickinson. In 2018, he moved into a cottage at Edgewood Hawks Point. The cottages gave him independence, comfort, and a sense of community. He shares his home with Bitsy, his 13-year-old, 9.5-pound toy poodle.
“I can enjoy the snow now, looking out my dining room window,” he says. “I enjoy it really well. I just have to go across the street—about 100 yards—to get dinner.”
He praises the staff for keeping sidewalks clear in winter, and the nurses (whom he jokingly calls “farriers”) for taking good care of his feet.
Stephen stays busy with the Double Nickels Club, a group of five friends from Dickinson High School’s Class of 1955. He enjoys birthday events, choir visits, resident council, exercise groups, and woodworking. Stephen turned most of his garage into a shop where he spends time making carvings, plaques, and gifts for family and friends.
Food is another highlight. “The food is good, and I have choices,” he says. He also loves the staff and often gives them fun nicknames. Executive Director Carrie Zimmerman is “Mom” because “she’s the mom for the whole bunch.”
Stephen stays in touch with his large family, who are scattered from Seattle to Florida and many places in between, through telephone, email, and Facebook. He also livestreams church services from his former congregation in Kentucky.
Occasionally, Stephen gets phone calls from scammers. To stay in good spirits, he answers in German—or switches languages mid-call—until they hang up. “They’re wasting my time,” he says with a laugh, “so I waste a little of theirs.”
After living all over the world, Stephen values the balance that cottage living offers:
Stephen’s experience shows that choosing where to call home is about more than just the house—it’s about freedom, connection, and living in a community that feels right.
His advice is simple: “After looking at some of the other places around, you can’t beat Edgewood. Edgewood stands out head and shoulders above the rest.”
