Dorothy Christina Steffen, 81, passed away at Sanford Hospice Cottage, Sioux Falls, SD, on June 14, 2016 after a brief battle with lung cancer.

Dorothy Vander Kuur was born February 8, 1935 in Paxton, SD to Leonard and Christena Vander Kuur.

She grew up with sister, Lorraine, and brother, Norman, enjoying airplane rides from her father and great German cooking from her mother.

She attended St. Mary's School of Nursing in Pierre and obtained her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license prior to meeting and subsequently marrying the love of her life, Henry "Vic" Steffen, on February 14, 1960. They lived in Burke, SD and Ft. Riley, Kansas before they bought their first home in Blunt, SD in 1972, where Dorothy lived until moving to Sioux Falls in 2014.

Vic, who was Assistant Director of EMS Services in South Dakota, was tragically killed in an accident in 1976.

After Vic's death, Dorothy received her EMT certification in 1977. She became one of the first female members of the Blunt Volunteer Fire Department when she joined that year ,as an EMT, to be part of their medical response team. She became a CPR Instructor in 1979 and a CPR Instructor Trainer in 1983. She was available for emergency calls, day or night, as part of this medical team.  She provided various other nursing cares to the people of Blunt when needed, as well. The Blunt Elementary Fire Prevention Program was another way Dorothy was active in her community through the Fire Department, taking over as Chairperson of that program from 2003-2014.

Dorothy was employed at St Mary's Hospital in Pierre, working on the Surgical/Orthopedic unit, but her main love was for care of Pediatric patients. She became well known for her role in the "Come and See" Program, allowing her to take school-aged children on tours of the hospital, showing them her world and enjoying all of their funny comments. She retired from St. Mary's in 2000 after 25 years of caring.

Dorothy is survived by her 5 children; Bob (Cathy) Steffen, Flandreau, SD, Tim (Kristina) Steffen, Cheyenne, WY, Dane (Ronda) Steffen, Sioux Falls, SD, Vicki (Todd) Rasmussen, Merrimack, New Hampshire, Christi (Daryl) Bubbers, Moorhead, MN. Of these unions, Dorothy was blessed with 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Lorraine Steppat, Winner, SD.

Dorothy loved Starbucks coffee, cross-stitching, reading western romance novels, watching murder mysteries and love stories on TV, having coffee with the ladies in Blunt, and Tucker, Dane's dog, who was her constant companion the past two years in Sioux Falls.

"You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have" Anon

The family is grateful for the wonderful care provided by Sanford Hospice Staff during this difficult time.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 24, 2016 at 2:00 PM at the Blunt Elementary Gym in Blunt, SD.  Burial will be Saturday, June 25, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the Graceland Cemetery, Burke.  Visitation will be Friday from 1 PM until 2 PM at the Gym in Blunt.  The family will gather on Saturday at 10:00 AM at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke prior to the committal service.