James L. Steffen, 73, died, surrounded by his wife and family, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, at the Golden Living Center in Arlington after a hard-fought battle with cancer.
Funeral services are 2 p.m. Friday at Grace Free Lutheran Church in Bruce. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 1 p.m. Rude’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
James L. Steffen was born May 16, 1944, in Tyler, Minnesota, the son of Frank and Edith (Stalheim) Steffen. James attended Bruce High School and graduated in 1962. While attending high school he was employed by several farmers in the area. He married Sharon L. (Rust) on March 20, 1965, at Grace Lutheran Church in Bruce. They lived in Bruce, until moving to their residence in Volga in February, 1986.
During their marriage, James was employed for the SDSU poultry unit for three years, and in 1966 James served active duty with the 7th of the 8th Artillery Unit during his tour of duty in the Vietnam War from June 4, 1967 to June 7, 1968.
Upon returning from his tour of duty, he was reunited with his wife, Sharon, and his daughter, Pamela, and was honorably discharged from the US Army as a corporal in October, 1968. Thereafter they farmed from 1968-1971, and in 1971, a second daughter was born, Cindy, and he took a position with Brookings County Highway Department as a crane operator where he continued until 1977, and in 1977 he began his 20-year employment with Coast to Coast Warehouse in Brookings, where he would medically retire in 1997, due to cancer. In 2003, he returned to part-time work for area farmers, which he enjoyed and never thought of as work.
James was a member of Grace Free Lutheran Church in Bruce.
He was a devoted husband to Sharon and dad to his girls, Pamela and Cindy, and loved spending time with them. He enjoyed many fun activities with his wife Sharon, including: snowmobiling, motorcycling, boating, farming, camping and taking long drives. He enjoying teaching his beloved grandsons, Thomas, Mitchell, Matthew, Brandon and Trentyn, all that he knew, gave great advice to all, and showed everyone that life was a gift. The last year of his life, he was blessed with a great -granddaughter, Ellie Lynn. James faced all challenges put before him with the help of the Lord.
He is survived by his wife Sharon; two daughters, Pamela (Scott) Hill and Cindy (Jeff) Schmit; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Sheena; two brothers: Larry (Janelle) Steffen and Roger (Mona) Steffen, and a host of family and friends.
James was preceded in death by his sister,Janet (Slobe), and grandsons, Thomas and Matthew Hill.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.
