Maria Stephens

Maria de la Luz Teresa Ignacia Escobar Troncoso Stephens, 88, of Billings, MT., died on January 7, 2026, after a long, fierce battle with chronic illness. She was magnificent!

Born prematurely, February 02, 1938, in El Paso, Texas, to her beloved parents, Manuel Troncoso, a respected criminal attorney and Amparo Escobar, a housewife and leader of the Red Cross and numerous charitable efforts in her community; Maria was not expected to survive. She not only survived, but soon put her part of the world on notice that she would ‘give no quarter’. Beginning in grade school, she led a strike making it clear that children had only rights, no responsibilities.

Maria and Roy Stephens (deceased) fell in love with one another in 1962, shortly thereafter, she gave birth to their only child, Claudia, by whom she is survived. Her husband, Roy, loved Maria fiercely to the day he died.

Mom was proud of her Mexican heritage and she was raised to believe her highest honor would be that of wife and mother, however, upon the long-term illness of my father, she bravely entered the working world to provide for the family. After overcoming many challenges, mom began working with the Yellowstone County (Montana) Health Department and later became key in the development of the migrant farmworker health project, which she directed for some 30 years. She sacrificed and worked hard with many wonderful people over the years to bring valuable health care services to thousands of people, ultimately across 3 states, thereby saving lives and helping our agricultural economies to thrive. Throughout her career she was also asked to serve on numerous civic boards including the Hispanic Scholarship Board and the Montana Governor’s Housing Discrimination Advisory Council.

She never asked for recognition for herself, but she honored all those who worked with her, by helping them strive for their individual best. She was proud of the children and young people who benefitted from that health project and went on to live richer lives. Other than her family, that migrant health project was a work of love to her.

Please join me for mom’s rosary vigil, Friday, January 23, 2026 at 6:00 PM and at her funeral Mass on, Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM - both services will be at Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 3411 3 rd Ave. S., Billings, MT. Burial to take place at Holy Cross Cemetery, followed by a luncheon at the church.