Steffensen, Cecil (1923-2010)
STEFFENSEN, OLESON, EDWARDS, LYMAN, MITCHELL, ENNEN, COSTIGAN, MEINDERS-GRAY, YATES, ANDERSON-LEGG
Posted By: Paul Nagy, volunteer (email)
Date: 11/9/2010 at 23:51:19
Cecil Steffensen
(March 24, 1923 - November 8, 2010)Cecil Steffensen, age 87, of Buffalo Center, Iowa, died Monday, November 8, 2010, at the Timely Mission Nursing Home in Buffalo Center.
The second of ten siblings, Cecil Clair (Squeak) Steffensen, son of Arthur and Zilpha (Oleson) Steffensen, was born March 24, 1923, on the Tin Farm in Miller, Hancock County, Iowa, where all the farm buildings were covered in tin.
In 1923-1924, Arthur and Zilpha Steffensen and family moved from the Tin Farm to the Steffensen Homestead northwest of Forest City. Previously owned by Christian Steffensen and then by Arthur’s father, Ludvig Steffensen, the Steffensen Homestead had been in the Steffensen family since 1900.
While Cecil was growing up on the Steffensen Homestead, his family had milk cows, hogs, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, work horses, and a Shetland pony. The Steffensen family moved to another farm near Joice, Iowa, in 1936, then to the Doden Farm in 1942, the Rich Farm near Thompson in March of 1947, and finally to the Murray farm by Buffalo Center in late 1947.
Cecil helped his father, Arthur, on the farm. From 1942 to 1947, he also helped out 12-14 other farmers in the Forest City, Joice, and Buffalo Center areas with thrashing, corn shelling, and cutting silage.
Cecil completed the first through the seventh grade at Landrau School #5 and the eighth grade at Joice High School, Joice, Iowa.
Cecil married Ruth Alice Edwards in May of 1946 and lived with his parents, Arthur and Zilpha Steffensen, on the Doden Farm in a little two room house with their first son, Harlan.
During March of 1947, wife Ruth, son Harlan, and Cecil moved to the Britt Farm west of Thompson. Cecil started farming with a WC Alice Chalmers steel wheeled tractor bought from Harry Honken. He changed the steel wheels to rubber tires later. The family had no electricity or pump on the Britt Farm, just a windmill. On his first farm, Cecil raised cattle, chickens, and hogs. He cultivated the corn rows, spaced forty inches apart, both lengthwise and crosswise to get rid of the weeds.
Before Christmas 1947, Cecil and family moved to the Rich Farm, southwest of the Britt Farm, after his parents, Arthur and Zilpha Steffensen, moved from the Rich Farm to the Murray Farm, near Buffalo Center, Iowa. On the Rich Farm, Cecil milked 21 cows; raised hogs, sheep, and chickens; and grew corn, soybeans, hay, and oats. Later, Cecil raised just hogs and beef cattle while growing only corn and soybeans.
Cecil started farming with a WC Alice Chalmers tractor and equipment, went to a WD Alice Chalmers tractor and equipment, then to International Harvester tractors and equipment before switching to John Deere tractors and equipment. His first car was a green, 1932, two door Chevrolet. In 1984, after having a heart attack, Cecil retired from farming after 47 years and moved to Buffalo Center, Iowa.
Cecil was a member of the Farm Bureau. He was also a member and a former board member of the Congregational Church and a member of the Reformed Church.
Left to cherish Cecil’s memory are his surviving six children: Denny (Beverly) Steffensen, of Forest City; Wayne K Steffensen, of Woden; Neil (Rox) Steffensen, of Thompson; Darwin Steffensen, of Racine, Wisconsin; Gail Steffensen, of East Chain, Minnesota; and Janet (John) Lyman of North St. Paul, Minnesota.
Also surviving are fifteen grandchildren: Larry, Jerry, Chad, Tony, Cory, Joshua, Jeremy, Brendan, Sean, Zach, Ryan, Rebeccah, Elizabeth, Nicholas, and Nathaniel, and twenty-six great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by a brother, Marvin Steffensen; and three sisters: Betty Mitchell, Jeanette (Markley) Ennen, and JoAnn (Tom) Costigan; four sisters-in-law: Clarine Steffensen; Delores Steffensen; Susan Steffensen; and Barbara Steffensen.
Cecil was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Zilpha (Oleson) Steffensen; his two wives Ruth (Edwards) and Iola (Meinders-Gray) Steffensen; his oldest son, Harlan; four brothers: DeVere; Clyde; Garth; and Donald; and two sisters: Elaine Yates and Mae Anderson-Legg.
His Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 AM Wednesday, November 10, 2010, at the First Reformed Church in Buffalo Center, Iowa, with Rev. Bill Peake officiating.
Visitation will be Tuesday November 9, 2010, from 5-7 PM at First Reformed Church in Buffalo Center, IA.
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