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Bonnie Steffen-Obituary

March 14, 2022

Bonnie (Sanders) Steffen died at the age of 102 on March 10, 2022 at Clay County Hospital. She was born on October 13, 1919 and grew up southeast of Lamar in Ottawa County, Kansas. Bonnie was the daughter of Frank and Carrie (Stewart) Sanders. Bonnie was predeceased by her parents and siblings Darrell Sanders, Loy Sanders, Lela Blomberg, Boyd Sanders (twin) and Javene Whitley. Bonnie married the love of her life Vergil Glenn Steffen on May 9, 1941 whom passed away on February 22, 2008.Bonnie was united in marriage to Vergil at the home of her parents near Lamar, Kansas and to this union two sons were born, Glenn Boyd and Allen Eugene. Bonnie is survived by her two sons Glenn Steffen of Wakefield, Kansas and Allen Steffen and his wife Gwen of Wiggins, Colorado. Bonnie has four grandchildren Lisa Sheets, Debbie Newman (husband Ralph), Boyd Steffen (wife Angela) and Tiffany Steffen. She also has six great-grandchildren Jessica Sheets, Jeremie Sheets, Tristan Newman, Megan Newman, Elijah Steffen and Isaiah Steffen.
Bonnie was a member of the Uniondale Baptist Church and later attended the Clay Center Bible Church. In most recent years she attended the First Baptist Church of Clay Center with her son Glenn until she was unable to do so. Bonnie turned over the management of the Farm to her son Glenn in 2016 and lived with Glenn for the last 5 years.
She was a graduate of Minneapolis High School, completing her post graduate studies at Clay Center High School and attended Kansas State University for her teaching certificate. Bonnie began her teaching career in Ottawa County at Grass Valley and Finn schools teaching 1st through 8th grade. She went on to teach in Clay County at Diamond and Union Dale Schools. Once married, her family became her focus, while raising two children, Vergil and Bonnie managed the farm south of Clay Center. Along the way, Bonnie worked as a bookkeeper for WW Smith & Sons John Deere Tractor in Clay Center. Bonnie then helped care for her mother Carrie at the end of her life while studying to be a Nurse’s Aide. After her mother’s passing, Bonnie worked at Clay Center Hospital as a Nurse’s Aide loving on all of the babies in the nursey.
Bonnie had a servant’s heart, preferring to make sure everyone else’s needs were met before taking time for herself. She had fond memories of her twin brother Boyd who passed away at 8 years old and was looking forward to seeing him again.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 Tuesday at the Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home in Clay Center KS
Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Clay Center, Kansas
Visitation will be held from 3-7 PM on Monday, March 14, 2022 at Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home
Memorials: First Baptist Church c/o the Funeral Home