Mary Jean Steinke, age 83, entered eternity surrounded by family on January 12, 2025, at Hospice of North Idaho in Coeur d'Alene after a battle with cancer.  Her funeral will be held on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 10:00 am the Grace Lutheran Brethren Church in Bottineau.

Mary was born in December 12,1941, in Bottineau, North Dakota.  After her graduation from  Bottineau High School, she married Norman Steinke, also of Bottineau, in 1959.  They moved to Washington state where they raised 3 children

Mary was a very energetic and creative person.  She was always open to an adventure and trying new things.  She was actively involved in her children's lives including serving as a Camp Fire Girls leader and being very involved in her son's Boy Scout activities.  She loved hiking, fishing, and camping.  She was a talented seamstress and enjoyed many types of crafting including quilting, knitting, crocheting, and painting.  She also loved blessing people with the beautiful cakes she would make for their special occasions including her daughter's weddings.  She was also a master gardener and had many productive gardens, which was a skill she learned from her parents.

Mary worked for over 25 years as a shift manager at McDonalds where she formed many new friendships.  She was always very active in the churches she attended.  She made countless banners which still hang in those churches today.  Over the years, she was a VBS leader many times.  She had a special way of making the bible stories come alive through her creativity.

Mary always missed her time in the Turtle Mountains and longed to return to her roots.  Norman and Mary moved back to Bottineau and resided at Lake Metigoshe for many years. They enjoyed their time there and a chance to return to family and many life-long friendships.  Mary was a gracious hostess and enjoyed sharing her home for many different occasions.  They often had an ice-skating rink in front of their home for grandchildren and their friends to enjoy.  Norman drove school bus during those years, and Mary loved decorating the bus once a month to celebrate birthdays, making the kids feel special and loved.

Over these last several years, Norman and Mary moved to Idaho.  Mary's eyes would always light up when her grandchildren and great grandchildren were around.  She enjoyed passing on her many stories of growing up in the hills and of her time in the one-room schoolhouse.  The memories she made with her family and her stories from her youth will live on in countless generations to come.

Mary is survived by her husband of 65 years, Norman, and 3 children, Keith (Lisa) Steinke, Linda (Bruce) Gatley, and Donna (Jerome) Nelson.  She is also survived by 7 grandchildren:  Valerie (Matt) Borkowski, Carolyn Steinke, Rachael Steinke, Anna (Mike) Johnson, Jonathan Gatley, Joshua Nelson, Sarah (Tyler) Harwood and 11 great grandchildren along with her sister Karol Patterson of Bottineau.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents Lloyd and Edith Krogen, her sister Sharon Thompson, brothers John and James Krogen, her brothers-in-law, Earl Thompson, Gary Patterson, and Marvin Steinke along with her father and mother-in-law Clarence and Ruby Kortgaard.

Arrangements are being made with Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau, North Dakota for a burial service in the Spring.  Mary will be buried at the Salem Cemetery in Bottineau.