Erma M. Steffen

GLENDIVE, MONTANA: Erma May Steffen, age 88, formerly of Savage, Montana passed peacefully from this life on Friday, April 2, 2010 at the Grandview Retirement Home in Glendive. Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 in the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. A Vigil Service will be held at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 in the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, April 8, 2010 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glendive with Father Ned Shinnick officiating. Rite of Committal will follow in the Dawson County Cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements. Erma was born at home, in the "big open" area outside of Fairview, Montana on January 17, 1922. Her grandmother attended her mother during the birth, as the country doctor arrived a little late. She was the daughter of Howard C. and Blanche (Crawford) McPherson. At a very young age she moved with her family to farm and live on Corn Table near Intake, Montana. For a few years she hiked across the hills with her older sister, Irene, on Monday morning to attend the country school at Intake, returning home along that same trail on Friday after school. Later the family moved and began farming along the recently completed irrigation canal five miles north of Intake. When she was about 11 years old her father hired a good-looking ranch kid from the Bloomfield, Montana area. That young fellow continued to work hard on the McPherson farm for seven years, which not only impressed Erma's father, but in the meantime managed to win Erma's heart as well. Seven years proved to be enough! She was united in marriage to Fredrick (Fred) John Steffen on March 28, 1940. Fred and Erma took a short trip to New York in 1940-41 to visit relatives and ended up staying several months as Fred took employment while there. With the start of World War II, they moved to Renton, Washington where they both worked to contribute to the war effort. Erma was employed at an airplane factory at McCord Field, Washington from 1942 to 1946. While there, their daughter, Rosemary, was born. In 1947, the couple returned to Glendive where their son, James, was born in 1952. They continued to live and work in Glendive until their family was raised. Erma was employed as an office clerk from 1964 through 1976 at the Montana Highway Department. In 1970, Fred and Erma purchased a ranch on the Red Water Divide from the Bill Steffen estate. For a few years, they would go out to the ranch after getting off work each day, to build a fence or haul in hay. After Fred's retirement in 1978, they moved out to the ranch to live full time. They relocated to the farm south of Savage in 1986, where she resided until January 2010. Erma loved animals and would often know and name many of the cows in the herd. Her gardens were always producing abundantly and weed free. (She claimed it was because she was closer to the ground.) She enjoyed summers on the Yellowstone River with Fred agate hunting, and she talked often of their family fishing trips to Yellowstone Park. Erma did not slow down much during her senior years, and insisted at 85 years young that she was able to climb into a raft for leisurely floats down the river with her children and grandchildren. No friend or family would ever leave her home without having something to eat or drink. She is famous among the family, especially for her home made dill pickles, fried chicken and the always-full cookie jar! Erma so enjoyed her last three months at Grandview, and would often tell her family how much she loved it there. Her little great grandchildren loved to visit "greaty" at Grandview, where they would scurry down the hall to show her their latest pictures and artwork. Her adult grandchildren often laughed with surprise and amazement at her quick witty comments. We will all remember with love this little spunky woman with the twinkle in her eye, and look forward to the day we can be with her again. She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Blanche McPherson; her husband of 66 ½ years, Fredrick John Steffen; her step-sister Irene (Prevost) McPherson, step-brother Fred Prevost; her brothers Earl Andy McPherson and Joseph Wellington McPherson. Survivors include her daughter, Rosemary Neumiller and her husband Dale of Shepard, Montana; her son, James Steffen and his wife Terry of Savage; her sister, Mable Kolstad, of Glendive; her brother-in-law John Steffen of Glendive; her sister-in-law Kay Eggebrecht and her husband Wilbur of Billings, Montana; step-sister, Ruth Prevost of Glendive;grandchildren, Todd Opp and his wife Janice, Traci Jarvis and her husband Shane, David Steffen and his wife Heather, Brian Steffen and his wife Jessica all of Glendive, Eric Steffen and his wife Aimee of Salt Lake City, Utah, Kimberly Steffen of American Fork, Utah, Tiffany Powell and her husband Jacob of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Kandace Calkins and her husband Matt of Rexburg, Idaho, and Krystal Stonehocker and her husband John of Glendive. Erma also had ten great grandchildren. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com

Erma M. Steffen

January 17, 1922 - April 8, 2010

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Erma M. Steffen

January 17, 1922 - April 8, 2010

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

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