Perpetua Steiner

A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Perpetua (Margaret) Steiner, 100, Richardton will be Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 10:00 a. m. (MDT) at Sacred Heart Monastery, Richardton, ND with Father Greg Staudinger celebrating. Sister Perpetual will be interned in the Monastery cemetery. A Rosary & Vigil Service will be Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at 7:00 p. m. (MDT) at Sacred Heart Monastery, Richardton, ND. Sister Perpetua (Margaret) Steiner, OSB, of Sacred Heart Monastery in Richardton, entered God’s eternal embrace on September 13. At 100 years old, she lived a lot of life and remembered almost everything in remarkable detail. She was the go-to person for an oral history of events within our monastic community and her family, an exceptionally gifted crocheter and seamstress, and, like all Benedictine Sisters, served well in many capacities in her almost 80 years in community. Born July 14, 1915 to George and Frances Steiner eighteen miles south of Richardton, the fourth of twelve children, Sister Perpetua learned many skills at a young age that served her well in religious life. She followed her older sister, Sister Frances, into the convent while our motherhouse was in Garrison. Though she was only educated through the fifth grade, she kept well informed and had such skills that she was never behind in anything. She spent her early years in community in our schools in Fallon, Garrison, Hague, and Minot and in Malta, MT, as cook, housekeeper and laundress for the Sisters and students. “Cooking,” of course, included the big garden and canning. Her summers often were spent cooking at Mandaree for the summer camp. Her last mission assignment was at St. Vincent’s Nursing Home helping in the residents’ dining room and doing the housekeeping and laundry for the Sisters. When she “retired” to the Monastery in Richardton, she remarked, “I just say retired, but I keep working to help keep going. “In 2014 she celebrated her 75th jubilee of monastic profession with her fellow jubilarians Sisters Monica Thome, Brigid McLean, and Annella Gardner. Sister Perpetua was a member of the largest profession class we have had in our community, one that began during a fragile time in our community’s history due to poverty and rapid increase of membership. Of the six members, Sister Perpetua was the third to die and her good friend and classmate, Sister Monica, was at her side at St. Benedict’s Health Center in Dickinson. Sister Perpetua dearly loved her extended family and they loved her. For her 100th birthday they gave her 100 Masses to be said by her nephew Fr. Greg Staudinger. That gift greatly pleased her because prayer and Eucharist were the cornerstones of her life. She is survived by her sisters Patty Staudinger (Billings, MT) and Frances Kathrein (New England), her sister-in-law Frances Steiner (Glendive, MT), and numerous nieces and nephews.


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Burial Date: September 16, 2015

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