Family to Receive Friends: Sunday, April 26, 2009 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home.
Funeral Service: Monday April 27, at 1:00 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church
Interment: Custer County Cemetery
Sadie Florella Steen Baber passed away, Wednesday, April 22, 2009, in Billings, Montana, at the age of 100 years, 10 months and 12 days.
She was born on June 10, 1908 near Lignite, North Dakota to Christian and Sophia Steen. After High School, she attended Minot Normal School where she earned her teaching Certificate. She taught school in North Dakota and Montana. At 21 she won a beauty contest. Her parents and family moved to Fort Keogh, near Miles City, in 1934, where her father was a blacksmith. Sadie met George Baber, who was working there, and they were married in June of 1938.They raisedtheir two children, John and Shirley, onthe farm, south of Miles City. George passed away in 1983.
Sadies zest for life was very contagious. Her positive outlook was always a welcome sight. In her wonderful one hundred years she accomplished many goals. Among them were: Charter member of the Miles City Homemakers club, attending 465 meetings out of 500 held during the 50 years of the club; the Custer County Homemakers Extension Council, Leader of the Tongue River 4-H club, served on the Custer County Fair Board, member of Eastern Star, Southeastern Montana Retired Teachers, Sons Of Norway, the Fiddlers group, the Range Riders Reps, First Lutheran Church in Miles City, and Peace Lutheran Church in Billings. Some of her projects have been the renovation of the poultry barn at the Eastern Montana fairgrounds into the 4-H building. While President of the Range Riders Reps, she organized the moving of the Horton one-room school house to the Range Riders Museum grounds in 1990, giving presentations to the museum visitors. In Miles City, she worked as a nurses aide for 11 years and was also a RSVP volunteer. She was very active in the church as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher of the First Lutheran Church, Miles City, making quilts for the missions.
Sadie was recognized as Homemaker of the Year in 1986 and was awarded the AARP-RTA National Award for community service in 1990. She loved to travel, took tours, and visited her grandparents' home in Norway. She was known for her Norwegian cookie krumkaka and her angel food cakes which she offered along with her winning smile and warm personality.Her bowling team took first place when she turned 85. She loved to sing and play cards and at age 92 started to play her fathers violin, joining the Fiddlers group for dances in Miles City.For the past six years, she has been living with her son, John, in Billings.
Sadie was preceded in death by her father and mother, Christian and Sophie Steen, brothers Roy, Clifford, Orville, and Arthur.
She is survived by her daughter Shirley (Glen) Kapitzke, of Miles City, granddaughter Sheila Kapitzke of Jacksonville, Florida, grandson Greg (Lisa) Kapitzke, a great-granddaughter Adison, a great-grandson Ashton, her son John, of Billings, and an adopted grandson, Schylar Canfield of Butte, along with several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Sunday, April 26, 2009 evening at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home, 1717 Main St. in Miles City with family receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The funeral will take place at First Lutheran Church, 512 Cale, Monday April 27, at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow in family lot of the Custer County Cemetery.A memorial service/concert will be held in Billings on Thursday, April 30th, 7:30 p.m. at St. Lukes Episcopal Church, 119 North 33rd with the Billings Community Orchestra and Shrine Chanters celebrating Sadies life.Memorial contributions may be made to the Range Riders Museum, P.O. Box 2003, Miles City, MT. 59301,Big Sky Senior Services, Inc. 3 North 35th Street, Billings, MT 59101 or the charity of your choice
Service Schedule
Service Schedule
Share
Add your thoughts and memories. Upon approval they will be added.