Thomas E. Steers

Thomas E. Steers, 81, of Miller, SD passed away on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at the Hand County Memorial Hospital in Miller, surrounded by his loving family. Visitation was Tuesday, January 8th at Rembold Funeral Home in St. Lawrence from 4:00-7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service.  Funeral Service was Wednesday, January 9th at the First Presbyterian Church in Miller with the Rev. Brian Jones officiating.   Burial was at G.A.R. Cemetery in Miller.

Tom was born on March 16, 1926 in Detroit, MI. He was the only beloved child of Ben T. and Irene (Granger) Steers. He attended school in Detroit until the age of 11, and then attended a one-room country school in Northville, MI. He graduated from high school at Detroit Country Day in 1944, and then attended VMI (Virginia Military Institute) until he was drafted into the Army where he served in the European Theatre in World War II. Upon his discharge, he attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he met and married the love of his life, Shirley O’Brien, on September 16, 1946.

In 1952, Tom and Shirley moved from Detroit to rural Miller, SD where he spent his life raising their family of six children and cattle ranching in the Ree Hills area.  Over the years he served on the Rockdale township and school boards, and was a long time member of the Miller First Presbyterian Church, serving various terms as an elder, trustee, and usher. Due to declining mobility, he spent the last four years living at Miller Good Samaritan Center where he received warm and loving care.

Tom’s greatest joy was spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren and experiencing the many activities they participated in through the years. He was a man of great strength, integrity and loyalty. He made friends easily and treasured the many friendships he made along the way. He was very proud of his family, and his humor, good nature, and gentle, loving ways will be cherished always.

Tom is survived by Shirley, his loving wife of 61 years, and his adoring children: Susan Andersen, Sioux Falls, Tom Steers, Burnsville, MN, Nancy Steers, Sioux Falls, Todd Steers, Huntington Beach, CA, Bob (Diane) Steers, Miller, and Ben (Rebecca) Steers, Fort Worth, TX; grandchildren: Kristin (Brian), Aimie, Megan (and her mother, Pam), Travis, Garett, Emma, Evan, Ivy, Chance, Connor, Sara, and Theron; and great-grandchildren: Caleb, Alex, Madelynn, Elise and Marissa; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, parents in-law, and two brothers in-law, Charles and John O’Brien and their wives.

The family kindly requests that memorials be directed to any of the following organizations: First Presbyterian Church of Miller Building Fund, National Kidney Foundation, or the American Lung Association.

  

 
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