Clarine Aamodt Steffensen
Clarine (Aamodt) Steffensen, 100, left her earthly home and joined God’s other angels, Sunday, June 26, 2022. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 5, at Salem Lutheran Church, Lake Mills, Iowa, with Pastor Joel Guttormson and Pastor Melinda McCluskey officiating. Burial will be in Salem Memorial Cemetery, rural Lake Mills. Visitation for Clarine Steffensen will be Sunday, July 3, from 4-6 p.m. at Schott Funeral Homes-Mittelstadt Chapel, Lake Mills. Visitation will also be from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church on Tuesday.
Clarine was born Sept. 27, 1921, to Carl Oscar and Clara (Peterson) Aamodt at their family farm near Joice. She was a life-long member of Salem Lutheran Church, Lake Mills, where she was baptized, but was confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church, Joice, because it was more convenient than driving to Lake Mills, where they were members.
Clarine attended the rural Clark school and graduated from Joice High School in 1939. As a teenager she taught Sunday School, sang in church and school choirs, and was a member of the Girls’ Recreation Association and the Lutheran Daughters of the Reformation. This group of teen and unmarried young women gathered to study the Bible, do handcrafts, and raise money for missions.
On Jan. 28, 1943, Clarine was united in marriage to DeVere Steffensen. Due to WW II and rationing, they were married at the home of her parents and honored with a homemade angel food cake. Following their marriage, they lived in Albert Lea, Minn., for a year, where she worked at Woolworth’s. One of her duties, due to war shortages, was to decorate cookies to be sold in place of Easter candy.
The Steffensens began farming with horses west of Lake Mills in 1944, and soon would purchase a tractor. Clarine worked hard gardening, cooking, making meals for her family and hired help, and driving the tractor, milking cows, and tending livestock as needed, all while raising six children. They retired and moved to Lake Mills in 1997, enjoying time with frequent family gatherings.
Outside her home, Clarine was active at Salem Lutheran where she was a Sunday School teacher, Altar Guild member, charter member of Sarah Circle, Ladies Aid officer, and quilter. Clarine was selected as an Iowa Merit Mother of the Year by the Iowa Mothers Association. She was a 4-H leader and supported her children in their activities.
Left behind to cherish Clarine’s memory are daughters: Lou Ann (Richard) Mikes, Indian Trail, N.C.; Patricia Nelson, Northwood; Julie (Leigh) Foster, Boone; and Rebecca (Larry) Hill, Thompson; daughter-in-law, Karen Steffensen, Goshen, Ind.; 14 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law; and a multitude of nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
Clarine has joyfully joined her husband, DeVere Steffensen, in heaven; as well as daughter, Nancy Monson; son, DeRay Steffensen; and an infant son; sons-in-law: Curtis Nelson and David Monson; grandson, Michael Nelson; granddaughter, Sally Steffensen; her parents; brothers: Orian, Carroll, and Donald Aamodt; sister, Virgean Hogan; and other beloved family members.
