Doris Steffen, 90

July 17, 1928 —

Sept. 27, 2018

 

Riceville - Doris B. Steffen, age 90, died on Thursday evening, Sept. 27, 2018 at Colonial Manor in Elma, Iowa. 

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 3, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Riceville, Iowa, with burial in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Riceville. Friends may call on Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. at Lindstrom Funeral Home in Riceville and at the church for an hour prior to services.She was born on July 17, 1928 on the family farm south of Riceville to Edward and Gertrude (Arndt) Rieken. She was the oldest of three children. She married the love of her life, Milton (Mike) Steffen on Aug. 26, 1949 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Parsonage. She was a farm wife until they retired and moved into Riceville. On the farm, she kept the books and fixed machinery, all while raising a family and teaching her children life lessons, including how to play cards. 

Doris was a loving wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma, daughter, sister and friend. She led an amazing life of doing, creating and giving to her family, friends and church. She took great pride in her children and their accomplishments. She was a wonderful homemaker and greatly enjoyed spending time with her family. 

Doris took great pride in being a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church for 90 years. She was a member of Ladies Aid, the quilting group, ordered cards and sent out cards for the church. She volunteered her time for many things at the church. She also was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. In addition, she volunteered at the Riceville nursing home over the years, including watering the flowers, mending clothing, providing birthday cards, making Mother’s Day corsages and visiting and playing cards with residents. 

Friends and family will remember her humor and quick wit, positive attitude, resilience, work ethic, creativity and willingness to help others. Doris loved playing cards with her friends and family, going to the casino, catching a bigger fish than her husband and making quilts for her grandchildren and the church. 

Survivors include her children, Norma (Robert) Gronwoldt of Waterloo, Iowa, Nadine (Tony) Goergen of Rochester, Minn., Russell (Tammy) Steffen of Sumner, Iowa, Carol (Tom) Eling of Menomonee Falls, Wis. and Karen (Eric) Idso of Stewartville, Minn.; a son-in-law, Mike Palmersheim of Wabasha, Minn.; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren and expecting one more; brother, Donald Rieken; and sister, Shirley Rieken. 

Doris was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Mike; and her daughter, Nancy Palmersheim of Wabasha, Minn. 

Doris’ wishes were to have memorials given to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church for the Cemetery Endowment Fund.