Frances Steiner

Funeral Mass for Sister Frances M. Steiner, 99, of Dickinson, will be 10:00 a. m. Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at Sacred Heart Monastery, Richardton, ND, with Father Grey Staudinger Celebrating and Prioress Sister Paula Larson. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Monastery Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at Sacred Heart Monastery, with a vigil service taking place at 7:00 p. m. Sister Frances passed away Saturday, October 8, 2011 at St. Benedict?s Health Center, Dickinson. Sister Frances (Catherine) Steiner was born September 19, 1912, on a farm south of Richardton, ND, to George and Frances (Wandler) Steiner. The second of twelve children, she worked on the farm until entering Sacred Heart Monastery, then located in Garrison, in 1933. She made her monastic profession on August 20, 1935. The very next day she was assigned to the boarding school in Elbowoods, on the Fort Berthold Reservation, where she was housemother and taught sewing and embroidery skills. For most of her years in community, Sister Frances used her homemaking skills in cooking and housekeeping for the Sisters and school children in parochial schools in Elbowoods, Garrison, Fallon, Hague, Minot, and also served at St. Luke?s Hospital in Crosby, and St. Vincent?s Care Center in Bismarck. When she retired to the Monastery in Richardton, she started a new ministry of teaching weekly catechism classes at St. Joseph?s Parish in Twin Buttes. As counselor, cook, and driver, she assisted with ministry to participants of the annual Camp ReCreation in Richardton. With her generous spirit, she was always busy on handiwork projects. One of many such projects was collecting old dolls which she repaired and redressed for local Christmas collections for children. One year she enjoyed crocheting one hundred little white angels to hang on the monastery Christmas tree and, for good measure, she made 322 more just to give away! There is no way to count all the other crocheted and hand crafted items that she created. She had the unique ability to look at any sewn or crocheted project and copy it without a pattern. Even with failing eyesight, Sister Frances was able to continue crocheting afghans simply by feeling the yarn and needle. But her heart and fingers were primarily occupied in the praying of the Rosary to which she was very devoted. In August, 2010, she and her classmate, Sister Louise Wirtz, celebrated their seventy-fifth anniversary of monastic profession?an exceptional event. A few months ago, after falling and breaking bones in her hand, she was admitted to St. Benedict?s Health Center in Dickinson, where her classmate Sister Louise was also a resident. Here she quietly surrendered her life to God. Sister Frances was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Lee, Tony, and Jake; and sisters Rose Harmon, Barbara Osaben, Eleanor Manly, Helen Detwiler, and Ismarie Kuntz. She is survived by three sisters: Sister Perpetua Steiner of Richardton, Frances Kathrein of New England, Perpetua Staudinger of Billings, MT; sister-in-law Frances Steiner of Glendive, MT; several nephews and nieces; and the Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery. Her nephew, Father Greg Staudinger of Columbus, MT, is invited to celebrate the Funeral Mass at the Monastery.


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Burial Date: October 12, 2011
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Mass: Wednesday, Sacred Heart Monastery, Richardton, ND