Howard Emery Stephenson was the son of William Stephenson, born at Indian Head, Saskatchewan, Canada and Alma Leone Emery born in North Dakota, U.S.A. He was a Baker at Westons in Vancouver, Canada. He married Lois Alma Long who was born at Kindersley, Saskatchewan, Canada. She was the daughter of Charles Joseph Long, born in England and Alma May Miller born in Seagrave, Ontario, Canada. They were married on the 26 July 1941 at The Chapel of St. Margaret's Church, Vancouver by Rev. G. Edwin Allsopf of 3888 Dufries Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, a minister with the Church of England in Canada. The witnesses were Glen Joseph Long of 3919 Beatrice Street, Vancouver, B. C. and Mrs. K. A. Van Dooren of 4108 Welwyn Street, Vancouver. Glen Joseph Long was Lois Alma Long's brother. He was married to Howard Emery Stephenson's eldest sister Delma Fern Stephenson.

Howard was the grandson of Henry Stephenson, who was born in Egremont Township, South Grey County, Ontario, Canada and Margaret Burden, who was born in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada. His great grandparents were Joseph Stephenson, who was born in Alston Parish, Cumberland County, England and Mary Ann Hornsby, who was born in Bayles (Bailes), Alston Parish, Cumberland County, England. His Stephenson great grandparents - Joseph and Mary Ann, immigrated to Canada with Howard's second great grandfather John Hornsby and his second great grandfather's sons on the S.S. City of Manchester. They arrived on the 11 April 1854 at the port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. His Burden great grandparents were William Burden and Margaret McBurney. They were married in 1853 at Annalong, Kilkeel Parish County Down, Ireland. After their marriage they immigrated to Canada. They both passed away in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. Howard's grandparents were married at Rydal Bank, Plummer Township, Algoma District, Ontario, Canada on the 6 April 1888. His aunt Margaret Stephenson and uncle Joseph Stephenson were born in Rydal Bank. They family journeyed by wagon train to Indian Head, Saskatchewan, Canada, where Henry tried to farm. Howard's father William Stephenson was born at Indian Head, Saskatchewan in 1893. His aunt Mary Elizabeth Stephenson was born in 1895 in Touchwood Hills, Saskatchewan. After Henry was unsuccessful farming in Saskatchewan, they journeyed back east to Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, where Howard's uncle Thomas Henry Stephenson was born. From Portage La Prairie, they journeyed to Slocan, British Columbia where Henry worked in the mining camps. From Slocan, Howard's grandparents, joined his great uncle Thomas Hornsby Stephenson and his great grandparents Joseph and Mary Ann (Hornsby) Stephenson in Idaho, U.S.A. Henry Stephenson and his family left Idaho in 1907 and journeyed to the Glendon, St. Vincent, area of Alberta, Canada where they remained until family members left for Edmonton, Penticton and Vancouver.