On March 14, 2011, Fred Steier, 74, completed his earthly journey surrounded by his family, where it began, in the home of his birth. Fred’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 19, 2011 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dickinson with Fr. Keith Streifel as the celebrant. Interment will take place at St. Joseph’s Cemetery later this Spring. Visitation will be on Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service with a St. Pius Verein rosary & parish vigil at 5 p.m., with Deacon Al Schwindt presiding.
Frederick was born on the family farmstead on April 6, 1936 to John and Rose (Dukart) Steier. He attended St. Pius School until grade 8, then continued his education and graduated from New England St. Mary’s High School. Along with helping his father with electrical work, he worked side by side with him on the family farm and continued farming operations after his parents retired to Dickinson. Fred enjoyed farming and liked to tinker in his shop fixing things. If he didn’t find the right part, he would make it on his turning lathe. At St. Mary’s Church on January 19, 1960, he was united in marriage with Geneva Reisenauer, the girl who caught his eye. They enjoyed 51 years together and were blessed with 14 children. In the fall each year, they took pleasure in taking trips to see the various national parks and mountains. Fred also enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren’s school activities. One of the highlights was attending the Rose Bowl parade in California to see the North Dakota Centennial Marching Band perform and watching the fireworks at Disney Land. Fred was a member of the St. Pius School board, the Knights of Columbus, the Eagle’s Club, and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. He served as a past president of the St. Mary’s Band Boosters and the St. Pius Verein. Fred cherished being on the farm and the time he spent with his family and grandchildren.
Fred is survived by his wife Geneva, their 14 children; Gary (Brenda Geerts), Hettinger; Linda (Dennis) Meyer, Dickinson; Cindy (Rodney) Steiner, Dickinson; Dion, Dickinson; Ramona (Dean) Kovash, Manning; Viola (Rod) Rudolph, Goodyear, Ariz.; Dina, Oahu, Hawaii; Crissy (Ken) Wolf, Belfield; Tammy (Warren) Stang, Dickinson; James (Audrey Roll), Dickinson; Bert (Daphne Schnase), Foxboro, Wis.; Chet (Ruth Hewson), Dickinson; Bradley (Nola Mumm), Bismarck; Shari (Kirk) Obritsch, Bismarck; 21 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; and four sisters, Rosemary Fisher, Dickinson, Victoria (Harvey) Herberholz, New England, Bernadette Knott, Minneapolis, Minn., Leah (Victor) Wanner, Dickinson, and two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Steier , Dickinson, Josie Steier, New England, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, two brothers, Clemens and Vincent, two brothers-in-law, John Fisher and Dale Knott.
