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Julius J. Steffen • 1913 - 2005 Julius J. Steffen, 91, Bowbells, died Wednesday, August 3, 2005, in the Kenmare hospital. Julius was born in Bowbells, ND, on November 14, 1913 to Frank and Selma Steffen. He was raised on the farm homesteaded by Julius' grandfather in 1900. He went to country school and then attended Bowbells High School, and was the youngest person in North Dakota to graduate at the age of 13, in the spring of 1927. On September 23, 1935, Julius married Florence Dudley. Their first child, a son, was born in 1936 but died at birth. In the following years they had five children, John, Susan, Jan, Joan and Jerome "Jerry". Most of his life was spent on the farm, but in 1958 the country school closed, so he moved with is family to Bowbells. They were there only a short time before Florence died of a heart attack, on March 10, 1959. Their oldest son John also died of a heart attack on November 8, 1961. Julius married again, to Helen Butgereit on May 27, 1963. Helen died in May of 1995 following a long illness. Most of Julius' life was spent on the farm, but he enjoyed reading, with Carl Sagen and Albert Einstein two of his favorite people. He enjoyed fishing and hunting moose for many years with Francis "Stub" his brother, Joe, his nephew, and later with Jan and Jerry his sons. He also enjoyed spending time with family and friends and watching late night television. He got his ham radio operator license in 1938 and spent a lot of time with ham radios and built his own walkie-talkies. Julius was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Bowbells, ND. Julius is survived by: His two sons, Jan Steffen, West Fargo, ND, and Jerome "Jerry" Steffen, Bowbells, ND; two daughters, Joan Christianson, Worland, WY, and Susan (Marlowe) Olson, Flaxton, ND; three grandchildren, Jacob Christianson, Anthony (Michelle) Christianson and Julie (Scott) Hagen; three great-grandchildren, Audrey and Katherine Hagen, and Ryan Christianson. Julius was preceded in death by his wives, Florence and Helen; an infant son, and son, John Steffen; his parents, Frank and Selma Steffen; brother, Francis "Stub" Steffen; half brother, Orin Betts, and half sister, Katherine Betts Kaiser. Funeral: Monday, August 8, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Bowbells, ND. Vigil Prayer Service: Sunday, August 7, 2005, at 7:30 p.m., at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Bowbells, ND. Visitation: Monday, August 8, 2005, one hour prior to the service in the church. Burial: St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Bowbells, ND. Celebrant of the Liturgies: Father Frank Shuster Music: Leona Funk, song leader Processional, "Amazing
Grace" Active Pallbearers: Jacob Christianson, Anthony Christianson,
Michael Herman, Scott Hagen Joseph Steffen, John Steffen |