August Steffen Jr., Burke

August Steffen Jr., 82, Burke, died Friday, July 10, 2009, at his home.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Clausen Funeral Chapel, Burke. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Burke. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral chapel.

He was born on July 18, 1926, in Burke to August Sr. and Pearl (Martin) Steffen.

He grew up on the family farm nine miles south of Burke and attended country school and Burke High School.

He entered the U.S. Navy and served from 1944 to 1946 as gunner’s mate aboard a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Pacific Ocean during World War II.

He was a lifetime member of Burke VFW and Legion.

He also served on country school boards, Burke school board and South Dakota School Board Association.

On May 26, 1948, he married Arlene Benter in Burke.

He worked in construction, building roads, dams and bridges before returning to take over the family farm south of Burke.

He is survived by six children: AJ and wife Carol; OB and wife Suzanne; and Janeen Steffen, all of Burke; Marcia Russell and husband Dave, Casper, Wyo.; Deb Waage and husband Roger, Hovland, Minn.; and Sue Steffen, Independence, Mo.; eight grandchildren, one great-grandchildren, a sister, Pearl, Burke; a sister-in-law, Evelyn Steffen, Hemut, Calif.; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, two brothers: Walt and John; and four sisters: Blanche, Hazel, Gladys and Arlene.

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