Mildred M. Steenhoven, 95, of Garretson, and formerly of Flandreau, died Tuesday, July 18, 2017, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Second Presbyterian Church in Flandreau. Burial is in Union Cemetery. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Minnehaha Funeral Home, 101 Leslie Drive, Garretson. Skroch Funeral Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.
Mildred Riedemann was born on May 15, 1922, at Paullina, Iowa, the daughter of August and Emma (Roth) Riedemann. At an early age she moved with her parents to a farm near Marcus, Iowa, where she attended school through 11th grade.
After her marriage to Herman Steenhoven on Dec. 14, 1939, at Marcus, Iowa, they lived around Hospers, Iowa, until moving to Ruthton, Minn. The family moved to a farm northeast of Flandreau in 1959 and in 1964 she started working at Ben Franklin.
They moved into town in 1970 and she worked for Schulz Florist. In 1987, she started working at the Flandreau Bakery and continued working until the age of 89. Herman died Dec. 15, 2000. In May of 2012 Mildred moved to an apartment in Garretson.
After moving to the Spirit Canyon Apartments, Mildred spent countless hours with the other tenants playing cards, teaching them how to play dominos and Rummikub, and enjoying potluck suppers. Mildred was active in her works for the Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the trustees and the deacons, sang in the choir and was a member of Grace Group.
The smell of fresh baked bread or rolls, when entering her home, will always be remembered.
She enjoyed gardening and preserving what she harvested.
Just the day before she died, she was telling a granddaughter how to pressure cook beef, step by step, and giving the measurements for each ingredient.
Mildred is survived by her five children, Arlen (Sharon) Steenhoven of Yankton, Donna (Cliff) Madson of Yankton, Ferdinand “Butch” (Lois) Steenhoven of Volin, Shirley (Mark) Garry of Garretson and Rick (Robin) Steenhoven of Spokane, Wash.; 11 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; and a brother, Burnell Riedemann.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman and siblings, Ferdinand, Bernice, Irene and Donald.
For online condolences, visit www.skrochfc.com.
