Dorothy Alta Steffen, 100, Minot died on Thursday, October 9, 2014 in a Minot healthcare center.

Dorothy was born on September 20, 1914 on the family farm near Deering, ND to Elford and Florence (Hall) Hance. She was reared on the family farm near Deering, graduated from Deering High School in 1933 and attended Wessington Springs, SD Junior College; Greenville, IL College; University of Wyoming - Laramie; Eastern Montana College of Education - Billings and Western Montana College of Education in Dillon. She graduated from Minot State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education in 1957. Dorothy married Jake Steffen on October 24, 1956 in Glendive, MT. She taught at rural schools in South Dakota and North Dakota and at schools in Glendive, Eckman, Kramer, Westhope, Beulah, Minot and Manfred. She retired in 1972. During the summer months Dorothy was employed at St. Joseph's Hospital as well as F.W. Woolworths and Montgomery Ward Department Stores all in Minot. Following her retirement she resided in Minot most recently at Edgewood Vista and ManorCare Health Services.

Dorothy and her husband were members of a number of organizations including the Railroad Museum, Railroad Evangelistic Association, Minot Commission on Aging, Senior Citizens League, Prairie Rails, Burlington Northern Veterans Association, Prairie American, STEER, Inc. Missions, Silver Connection, XYZ Senior Citizens Club, Christian Women's Club, Women's Christian Temperance Union, Right to Life, Child Evangelism Fellowship and Bible Fellowship Church of the Mennonite Brethren.

As a member of the Railroad Evangelistic Association, she assisted her husband, Jake, when he was the local and national president of the organization. As a member of the Minot Commission on Aging, she assisted her husband for the twelve years that he was president of the Senior Citizens Bible Study Group. As a member of the Bible Fellowship Church, she was active in many activities of the church, including teaching Sunday school and in the Daily Vacation Bible School. She was also involved in the Mennonite Brethren Ladies Mission Circle which included serving as treasurer, vice chairman and president at different times. As a member of the Child Evangelism Fellowship she was a Good News Club teacher for many years and assisted in the CEF work at the state fair for many summers. As a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union she held local, district and state offices in the organization.

She and her husband traveled extensively in connection with the organizations to which they both belonged, attending many conventions. They also took many pleasure trips to many parts of the U.S.A, including Alaska, and to Canada and Mexico.

Dorothy's survivors include: stepchildren: Robert (Carol) Steffen of Lake Havasu AZ, Charles (Jean) Steffen of Salt Lake City UT and Joyce Steffen of Ashland VA; siblings: Wilford Hance of Minot, Glenn (Eileen) Hance of Minot, Eva Hansen of Minot and Faye Zurcher of Minot; sister-in-law: Clarice Hance and numerous stepgrandchildren, stepgreat grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters: Edna Hance and Geneva Hance, brothers: Robert and Lynn Hance and stepson: Allan Steffen.

Celebration of the Life of Dorothy Steffen - Monday, October 13, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in the Bible Fellowship Church - Minot.
Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens - Minot.
Visitation: Sunday from noon until 5:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the donor's choice.