Betty Steiner

A funeral Mass for Betty Steiner, 95, of Dickinson, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, February 20, 2020 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Dickinson with Father Bill Ruelle and Monsignor Patrick Schumacher con-celebrating. Burial will take place 1:00 p.m. CT Friday, February 21 at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, ND.

Visitation for Betty will be 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at Stevenson Funeral Home with a rosary and vigil service being held at 7 p.m.

Betty passed away Friday, February 14, 2020 at St. Benedict’s Health Care in Dickinson.

Betty was born in New England on August 10, 1924, to Christ and Cecelia (Schaff) Schaaf. On October 5, 1942, Betty married Joseph Steiner at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New England. At the start of WWII, they moved from New England to Bremerton, WA. Joe served in the US Army from 1944-1946 and Betty worked at the Bremerton Shipyard as a “Rosie the Riveter.”

Following the war Joe and Betty moved back to North Dakota where they eventually owned and operated the Golden West Bar in New England until they retired in 1980. They both worked long hours to ensure their nine children received a Catholic education at St. Mary’s.

Betty embraced her retirement at McKenzie Bay. She and Joe enjoyed quiet weekdays preparing for the noisy weekend onslaught of children and grandchildren visiting and reveling in lake life. During the winter months Joe and Betty would take their camper around the country, visiting friends and family, as well as sharing drinks and conversation with their fellow campers along the way. As much as they loved their adventures, they were always ready to get back and attend their grandchildren’s sporting events and extra-curricular activities.

After the death of her beloved Joe, Betty continued to enjoy the lake life with her children up to and including her final summer. She often “took the wheel” of the pontoon to show her kids how it was done!

Perhaps the most thrilling event of Betty’s life was during her 2002 pilgrimage to Rome, accompanied by two of her daughters and Bishop Austin Vetter, where she was within three feet of Pope John Paul!

Betty shared a deep and reciprocal love with her family and taught them how to live life to the fullest, enjoy the simple things in life and make the best darn kasenip in North Dakota! She was never happier than when holding a baby in the middle of a family gathering. She also enjoyed a nip of Blackberry Brandy, which her children always had on hand for her. Betty will be dearly missed but the sound of her infectious laugh and her love of life will remain with us forever.

Betty is survived by her sons, Calvin (Vicky), Carson (Mary), Bryan (Rachael) all of Dickinson; daughters, Lana (Chuck) Anderson of Engelwood, FL, Renee (Tom) Johnson of Columbia, SC, Wanda (Collin) Dobrovolny of Gilbert, AZ, Jody (Steve) Kelly of Arlington, VA, Sherry (Darwin) Volk of Dickinson; daughter-in-law, Sue Steiner-Schnell; grandchildren; Joan Steiner, Amy Naseth, Christopher Steiner, Elizabeth Fridrich, Sarah Steiner, Luke Steiner, Noelle Steiner, Brad Anderson, Jessie Anderson, KaDean Kasperek, Shanda Coogler, Jenna Dobrovolny, Shannon Dobrovolny, Joseph Steiner, Kayla Kryiaco, Tiffany Steiner, Stevie Anne Steiner-Kelly, Jacob Volk, Jonathan Volk; 22 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandson.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Christ and Cecelia Schaaf; husband, Joe; son, Bernie; grandson, Wade Volk; sisters, Barbara “Bobbie” Durflinger and Viola Yancey; brothers, Mike, Leo, Alex and Sebastian Schaaf.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to St. Benedict’s Health Center, 851 4th Ave E, Dickinson, ND 58601 or CHI Health at Home Hospice, 986 2nd Ave West, Dickinson, ND 58601.