Iona Avis Steen

April 16, 1930 - June 25, 2014

Iona A. Steen, age 84, of Marshall, passed away surrounded by her loving family at her residence on Wednesday, June 25, 2014. Funeral service will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday, June 28th at Grace Life Church. Visitation will be 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. with a 7:00 P.M. prayer service Friday at Hamilton Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Marshall Cemetery. Iona Avis was born on April 16, 1930 in Enderlin, North Dakota to Ingvald and Alma (Shelver) Moe. She attended Liberty and Moore Township schools through eighth grade, graduated from Enderlin High School and went on to graduate from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, with a BA in Sociology. On June 29, 1952, Iona was united in marriage to Norman Udell Steen at West St. Olaf Lutheran Church, rural Enderlin. She taught junior and senior high school at Belgrade, MN. Through the course of her life in Marshall she worked for the following: teacher’s aide for Marshall School District, REM, Patricia Duffy House, Marshall Independent and as a translator for Head Start. A turning point in her life was the four years she and Norman spent as missionaries in Bolivia, South America. Her life was marked by her love and service for her Lord. She served Christ wherever doors opened for her, whether in her local church, serving with Faith Mountain Ministry or around the globe with short term mission trips: Russia, Cuba, Haiti, Israel, Mexico. In 2010 she received the Volunteer of the Month Award from the Avera Hospital Thrift Shop. Her enjoyments included her family, music, playing piano, quilting and cats. She is survived by her children; Naomi (Mike) Muscha of Enderlin, ND, Rev. Nathan (Kathy) Steen of Rugby, ND, Miriam (Richard) Ludeke of Archer, IA, Mark (Linda) Steen of Marshall, Matthew (Laurel) Steen of Marshall, Mary (Darin) Veldhuisen of Marshall; 22 grandchildren and 2 step-grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren and 4 step-great-grandchildren; also many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Norman in 2008; an infant brother; a great-granddaughter, Lauren Ashley Luna; and great grandson, Malachi Northup. Blessed be the memory of Iona A. Steen