Athena Mary (Raptis), Stewart, 89 and a long-time Dickinson North Dakota resident, died late Wednesday, March 19, 2013 at a Bismarck hospital surrounded by the love of her family.

Athena was born Feb. 29, 1924, in Lorain, Ohio, to Regina and Steve Raptis, Lorain-area restaurateurs. She was the second of four children.
While only four months old in June of 1924, she survived a massive tornado that destroyed much of the city of Lorain, when a tree fell on the family home’s porch, narrowly missing the bassinet in which she was sleeping.

Athena attended schools in Lorain, graduating from Lorain High School. It was while attending high school that she developed her lifelong passion for the violin. After graduating from high school, she studied violin and piano at the renowned Cleveland Institute of Music and then went on to Kent State University, where she graduated with a teaching degree in music. Athena also studied violin overseas, in Italy. During World War II she toured as part of a USO-sponsored string quartet that entertained troops throughout the United States and Europe.

In the late 1940s, she became Concert Mistress of the highly-regarded Cleveland Women’s Symphony, at a time when women were effectively banned from playing in major symphonies across the country.

As the 1950s dawned, Athena found herself in California, working for the state as a social worker in the Merced Valley. It was there she met her future husband, Jack Stewart, an Air Force pilot stationed at the air base there. Although she had grown up in a metropolitan area, Athena was athletic and was an accomplished tennis player, archer and swimmer. Those skills helped her during her college years where she worked summers as a Girl Scout leader, and later with daughters of her own, as a volunteer Campfire Girl leader. Her work ethic and altruism touched the lives of many people.

Athena and Jack, a North Dakota native who loved the outdoors, spent the next couple of years exploring remote areas of California, until he was transferred to Forbes Air Force Base outside of Topeka, Kan. Just prior to their move in late 1953 to Kansas, Athena learned she was pregnant, with what turned out to be twins, a daughter Patricia, and a son Michael.

After their birth, Athena suggested that Jack resign his commission in the Air Force in exchange for a safer life with feet on the ground. The couple with their new babies moved to Minot, N.D., where Jack attended what was then Minot State Teachers’ College. Within the next couple of years, a daughter Lili, and son Jack Jr., were added to the family.

After Jack’s graduation from Minot State in 1956, the family moved to Eden Valley School outside of Sherwood, N.D., where Athena taught piano lessons when she wasn’t busy with their four young children. In 1959, the family moved to Halliday, N.D., where Jack continued his career as a science teacher, and where Athena began her career as a private music teacher. As far back as any of the children can remember, their home was filled with music and each child was encouraged to learn whatever instrument they chose.

The family’s involvement in the outdoors continued there, with many camping trips made to the shores of Lake Sacajawea and many hikes made to, among other places, the top of a special nearby butte where the beginning of each spring was heralded in with a splendid bloom of purple crocuses.
The family moved back to Athena’s hometown of Lorain, Ohio, in 1963 after her father died and everyone was rallied to help with what had grown into a large family restaurant and catering business. Athena worked alongside her siblings to manage the family businesses. But now a room in their home in Lorain was set aside as “the music room” and she continued there to teach private lessons in violin, viola, piano, cello and with its increasing popularity, the guitar.

In 1970, the family returned to North Dakota, moving to Dickinson, where Athena gained a popular following as a teacher of private music lessons, and where she introduced hundreds more to music performance through her skills as a musician and teacher. She gave freely of her time to play as a member of area chamber concert groups and as a soloist for many years. As the 21st century broke upon us, Athena found it more difficult to play as arthritis began to give her trouble with her hands, but she could still teach and continued until she was eighty years old, when she decided it was time to retire. Her love of good music continued until her last day on earth.

A reader and thinker, Athena was always up for a good discussion or debate concerning politics, religion or philosophy. Her children will fondly remember many hours spent sitting around the dinner table engaged in lively discourse.

Athena was preceded in death by her husband Jack Stewart, her parents Regina and Steve Raptis, and her older brother Tom Raptis. She is survived by her four children: daughter Patty Stewart-McCord (husband Thomas), of Lumsden, Sask., Canada; son Michael Stewart, of Cascade, Idaho; daughter Lili Stewart, of Beach, N.D.; and son Jack Stewart (wife Arlis), of Dickinson. Also surviving are granddaughter Sara Frank (husband Derek) of Bismarck, great grandchildren Dax and Rava; granddaughter Katie Sanderson of Bismarck; grandson Charlie Sanderson, (wife Amy) of Craven, Sask., Canada; grandson Stewart Dawson, of Colorado; and grandson Tyler Stewart, presently stationed overseas with the U.S. Marine Corp. They will carry the lessons learned from knowing this great lady for all the years to come. Also grieving her loss are a brother Bill Raptis (wife Ginnie) of Phoenix, Ariz., and a sister Margaret Rodgers, of Wellington, Ohio, and numerous nieces and nephews.

At Athena’s request, her body was cremated and her ashes will be scattered at a later date with those of her husband Jack. A private memorial service will also be scheduled sometime in the summer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Athena’s name to a charity of your choice. For the hundreds of students she shared music lessons with for the 60-plus years that she taught, we ask you remember her by playing a song, humming a tune and remembering that when you truly connect with the music, it’s the voice of your spirit.