Rose Mary Steffan

On Friday, December 26, 2014, Rose Mary Steffan, at the age of ninety, was called by her Lord and Savior to her heavenly home.

Rose Mary Zimmer was born December 10, 1924 at home in Munich, ND; the daughter of Peter and Hildegarde (Weber) Zimmer. She was the eighth child in a "yours, mine, and ours" family of 14 children. She was raised on the family farm and graduated from Munich High School in 1942.
In September of 1943, she entered the nursing program at Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake, ND. She joined the Cadet Nursing Corp during WWII, a two year commitment.

Rose Mary was united in marriage to Peter Steffan at St. Mary's Church in Munich, ND on June 20, 1949. The couple lived on a farm near Webster, ND until they moved mid-October 1952 to the 'Lamb Farm' near Michigan, ND. In October of 1971 Peter and Rose Mary moved one last time to the site of the current 'Steffan Family Farm' near Mapes, ND. Rose Mary and Peter welcomed ten children into their family. They farmed and raised cattle until Peter's death in October of 2006.

Rose Mary was a dedicated parishioner, Catholic Women's Club member, organist, and choir member at St. Lawrence O'Toole Catholic Church. She was a member of the Michigan Legion Auxiliary as well as Michigan Homemakers Club. She was a 4-H leader and one of the founding members of the Michigan Ambulance Service. Rose Mary taught CPR for many years as a part of her ambulance service.

Rose Mary enjoyed singing and humming, playing piano, cards and games, gardening, canning, and baking (especially bread). Rose Mary stated that God had blessed her in many ways and she was most thankful for her family and the time she spent with each of them.

Rose Mary will be greatly missed by her ten children, Gerald (Christine) Steffan of Fargo, ND; Janice (Robert) Rintoul of St. Croix Falls, WI; Elaine (Larry) Martz of Portland, ND; Carol (the late William) Aaland of Fosston, MN; Barbara (Tom) Holmgren of Champlin, MN; Judith (David) Gingrey of Gardner, ND; Ann (Pete) Lewis of Nevis, MN; John (Brenda) Steffan of Michigan, ND; David (Angela) Steffan of Michigan, ND; Katherine (Zach) Kauk of Dunlap, IL. Her thirty-two grandchildren: Sarah (Trent) Matejcek, Joshua (Steph) Steffan, and Breanne Steffan; Teresa Rintoul, Nic Rintoul, and Zac Rintoul; Jennifer (Kirk) Thorson, Steven Martz, and Kevin Martz; Alisa (Josh Sagvold) Aaland, Brian (Melissa Green) Aaland, Crystal Aaland, and Michelle (Matt Kimball) Aaland; Rachel Holmgren and Stephanie Holmgren; Elizabeth Gingrey, Daniel (Rachel) Gingrey, Lisa Gingrey, and Matthew Gingrey; Fonda (Collin) Galbreath, Katie (Adam) Schieck, Fred Lewis, and Hannah Lewis; Nathan Steffan, Philip Steffan, Roman Steffan, Jack Steffan, Laura Steffan, and Levi Steffan; Cole Kauk, Jacob Kauk, and Karly Kauk. Fourteen great grandchildren: Ethan, Keira, and Chase Matejcek; William, Leah, Jude, and Lydia Thorson; Kira and Lucy Martz; Aubrey, Lexi, and Charlie Aaland; Elijah and Hadassah Schieck. She is also survived by her brother Eugene Zimmer; sisters Pauline Argenziano, Margaret Haugen, Mary Frances Becker, Sr. Philip Zimmer, and Agnes Hanigan.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Peter; parents Peter and Hildegarde Zimmer; brothers Roman Zimmer, Ted Zimmer, Michael Hoffman, A.C. Hoffman, and Fr. Joseph Zimmer; sisters Clara Michaels, and Sally Artz; and son-in-law William Aaland.

The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Lawrence O'Toole Catholic Church, Michigan, ND, on Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. The Celebrant will be Rev. Fr. Steven J. Meyer. Burial will be in the Michigan Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Church on Tuesday, beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Vigil and Rosary Service at 7:00 p.m.

Arrangements with the Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota, ND.

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