Connie Steen

Connie Mae (Churchill) Steen was born, raised and resided on a ranch near Fairburn, S.D.  She graduated from Rapid City (S.D.) Central High School in 1977 and continued to work on the ranch near Fairburn after graduating.
She met Mell Steen of Rapid City in 1982 and they married in 1983. Connie went from being a single woman in her early 20s, to a loving wife of Mell, and loving stepmother of two young boys, Kane and Matt. Connie and Mel added a beautiful blessing to the family in September of 1988 when their daughter Chelsea was born.
She was continuously involved in community activities in the Custer County area including, rodeos, ropings, benefits and fundraising, as well as being the secretary for the Custer County Fair Board for over 20 years.
Her favorite hobbies were cooking, baking and gardening. She also loved to knit and sew.  In the earlier years, Connie enjoyed attending her children’s 4H, FFA, livestock and horse shows, baseball games, wrestling meets, football games, etc.  She was always willing to step up and help her children with any activities they wished to pursue, and always did it with a smile on her face, no matter how difficult the arrangements were while trying to juggle the ranch and responsibilities of everyday life.
As the years passed and her children became adults, Connie became a grandmother. As her grandchildren grew and started their own activities, she loved attending the events of her grandchildren, watching her granddaughter at choir events, gymnastics meets and volleyball games.  Connie loved watching her grandsons play hockey as well as their various school activities. Most of all she loved watching their baseball games because she always enjoyed being outside and soaking up the sun on the warm summer days.
Most of all, Connie loved life, and life to her was spending quality time with her friends and family.  She touched so many of us.  Her gift to us can never be repaid, but it can be remembered and passed on through our actions towards others.
Our family and community sadly lost a very special woman Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, when Connie passed away from complications of cancer at Monument Health in Rapid City with her family by her side. She was 63.
She was preceded in death by her father, Ralph (Jr) Churchill; brother, Clyde Churchill; and nephew, Jonathan Gorsuch.
Connie is survived by her husband, Mell; mother, Bernice Churchill; three children, Kane (Amber) Steen, Matt (Jamie) Steen and Chelsea (Jay Schwalbe) Steen; three grandchildren,  Ella, Dexter and Brixton (Kane and Amber); sister, Robin Gorsuch and her four children, Ryan (and his son Dmitrii), Sarah, Adriel and Kayla; cousins, Deb Patterson, Steve Streeter and many others. Connie had so many friends we can’t mention them all, but know you are all in our thoughts and the family is so appreciative of everything you have done for us recently and in the past.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, March 3 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home in Rapid City.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 4 at the Hermosa School Gymnasium.
Her online guestbook is available to sign at osheimschmidt.com

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