Frances E.G. Steding

Fran Steding passed away April 23, 2011 having lived a long and productive life as a wife, mother, community activist and professional. Born March 15, 1923, she recently celebrated her 88th birthday with family and friends. Fran was born in Volga, South Dakota and lived her childhood in Bruce, South Dakota. Valedictorian of her high school class of eighteen (18), she graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in Home Economics and Music (Organ). She was the first from SDSU to receive a Danforth Fellowship (1945) which took her to Ann Arbor and the campus of the University of Michigan. There she met her husband, John Steding, who had returned from his service in World War II to complete his undergraduate and graduate education in aeronautical engineering. Together they lived in Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Lancaster, California before settling on Mercer Island fifty-one (51) years ago. Fran served as church organist at the Methodist Church of Lancaster (1950s) and the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church. Her specialty was working with the Stewardship committee. She took that talent with her to the Mercer Island Covenant Shores community where she marshaled the residents to increase their holiday bonus’ to staff and led their Resident’s Council for two years. Fran was a charter member of the Mercer Island Federation of Republican Women. She was the Campaign Chairman for Forward Thrust (1970). She served as Precinct Committeeman (1976) and worked with and for many candidates, especially Joel Pritchard in his campaigns for the US House of Representatives. Fran was a Camp Fire Girls leader and sponsor and was awarded the Wakan Award in 1970. Fran was active with the Mercer Island High School Parent Faculty Committee and she was active in the American Association of University Women in Indianapolis, Lancaster and Mercer Island. During their years in Lancaster, she and John performed in the local community musical productions and Fran was a winning competitor in the local county fair’s pie baking contest (1950s). Mom was the family member to beat in Scrabble, always a winning partner in bridge and a huge fan of Mariner’s baseball. John passed away in 1995, and Fran is survived by her children, Sue (Gary Stone), Dorothy, Jennifer (Steve Detjen), Bill (Dana McCullam), three (3) grandchildren, four (4) step-grandchildren and one step great grandchild. Our family is particularly grateful that our sister, Dorothy has been able to be fully supportive and acting as both a friend and daughter to our mother in her later years. We are also grateful to the fine staff at the Mercer Island Covenant Shores community and to the staff at Overlake Hospital, all of whom exhibited warmth and skill. At Fran’s request there will be no services. She will be interred in the Memorial Garden of the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church. Her family is forever grateful to her for her love and commitment to us, to our Dad, to her community and to all aspects of having a good life. At her request, she would be honored to have any tributes forwarded to the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church Foundation.

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