Elsie Steingas

Elsie M. Poster was born to Mike and Anna Baron Poster on July 6, 1927 in International Falls, Minnesota. She graduated from the Falls High School in 1946 and promptly married her childhood sweetheart Wilfred Steingas on June 15, 1946 in Virginia, Minnesota. "Willie" and Elsie arrived in Missoula in August 1948 by train with their one year old daughter, looking for a job and some adventure. Missoula was the first stop, and Willie found a position as pressman at the University of Montana. They never moved out of the Missoula area after that.

Elsie never worked outside the home, but had her hands full with seven children and a busy household. She loved to cook, garden, and can fruits and vegetables. The family loved to travel with vacations taking them from East Coast to West, and Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, often with the family camping trailer in tow and with any number of the children. Seeley Lake and the National Bison Range in Moiese were favorite local destinations. She was a long time member of the Missoula Seventh-day Adventist Church, served as a teacher in children's Sabbath School classes and as a deaconess, and was active in other church activities.

Elsie passed away at home in Missoula on Saturday, June 27, just 9 days before her 88th birthday. Willie had passed away just 22 days earlier on June 5. They would have been married for 69 years on June 15.
A Family Graveside Service will be held on Friday, July 10, at 10 am at Sunset Memorial Gardens on Mullan Road. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 11, at 4:00 pm at the Missoula Seventh-day Adventist Church at 800 South Avenue West.

Survivors include daughters Diane Crider (husband Raymond) of Alberton, MT and Lynda Knapp (husband David) of Boring, OR, sons John Steingas (wife Janice) of St. Paul, MN, Roy Steingas of Missoula, David Steingas (wife Cheryl) of Karnack, TX, Robert Steingas (wife Cathy) of Springfield, OR, and Gary Steingas (wife Amy) of Yakima, WA, and sister Dorothy Fries of Rochester, MN. She has 24 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family expresses their appreciation to Dr. Rebecca Hoover and Partners in Home Care Hospice for their part in Elsie's care in her last months of life, and special thanks to daughter Diane Crider and son Roy Steingas for their committed care of both Wilfred and Elsie during the last many months, and daughter Lynda Knapp and daughter-in-law Cheryl Steingas for their part in the last weeks. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Water of Life Radio Station, KWLY-LP in Missoula.


Read Elsie Steingas's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.