Marie Van Steenvoort

Marie (Ethen) Van Steenvoort, 96, passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at Missouri Slope Care Center with her daughters at her side. Marie was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and co-worker. 

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, August 31, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck. 

Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan at a later date.

Marie was born May 31, 1927 in McHenry, North Dakota to Nicolas and Anna (Brudvig) Ethen. She was the oldest, followed by her brothers, Norval and David. The family moved to Devils Lake in the 1930’s. She graduated from Devils Lake Central High School and worked at Devils Lake Rexall Drug and Nash Finch before her marriage to George Van Steenvoort on August 28, 1947. 

George and Marie moved to Butte, MT where their first daughter, Nancy was born. They returned to Devils Lake in 1950, shortly before daughter number 2, Marcia was added to the family. Another daughter, Sandra joined the family in 1952. Marie had her hands full at home. 

George and Marie built their first home in 1957, from the ground up in a close-knit neighborhood. That’s when a fourth and final daughter, Teresa, joined the family. When Teresa was four years old Marie rejoined the work force, working at Farmers Union Oil and then Barkers Fine Apparel. All her jobs were bookkeeping related. When Marie was about 45 years old, George was attending conferences and wanted her to go with him, so she retired. 

Mom was the queen of casseroles and baked bread to ease her frustrations. She could beat up the dough and reward us all with her yummy buns and cinnamon rolls. Mom also made the best from scratch lemon meringue pie, party brownies and all kinds of Christmas cookies. Mom had drawers full of cookbooks and recipes she cut out of magazines and newspapers. 

George and Marie moved to Bismarck in 2018 to be nearer to family and good medical care, first living in Valley View Heights Assisted Living and then at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center. 

Marie is survived by her spouse of 77 years, George; daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy (Glen) Hoffer; Marcia (Rick Burckhard); Sandra (Dennis) Threatt and Teresa (Gary) Opper. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, Jeff (Claire) Hoffer, their three children, Amy, Elizabeth and Katherine; Julie (Lyle) Kinnischtzke and children, Brooke and Drew; James Hoffer and two sons, Evan and Reed; Susan (John) McNamara and their children, Finn and Oliver; Beth Burckhard and her two children, Brendan and Haylie; Wendy (Colby) Griffin and their two children, Elise (Jarren) Thomas and Hollie Perez; Bradley (Stephanie) Opper and their children, Eli and Parker, and Nicole Opper; and brother, David Ethen.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Nicolas and Anna Ethen; brother, Norval Ethen and many aunts, uncles and cousins.