Shirley Steers

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Shirley Steers, 94, of Sioux Falls and formerly of Miller, passed away Saturday, November 7, 2020 at the Avera Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls.

Ben Daniel Steers, 56, of Fort Worth, TX, passed away unexpectedly of natural causes at his home on Wednesday, May 27, 2020.

Funeral services was held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, November 28, 2020 at the First Presbyterian Church, Miller with Rev. Brian Jones.  Burial followed at G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller.  Visitation was held one hour prior to the funeral service. 

Shirley Steers

Shirley was the youngest child born to Charles and Olga Eleanor (Bloomquist) O’Brien, on October 27, 1926 in Taylor, Michigan. She joined brothers, Charles and John. She attended school in Taylor and graduated from Dearborn High School in 1944.

Shirley attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where she met the love of her life, Thomas Edward Steers, at a ‘welcome home’ dance for returning World War II soldiers. Shirley and Tom were united in marriage on September 16, 1946 and celebrated 61 years together. Her husband preceded her in death on January 5, 2008.

Both Shirley and Tom were ‘big city kids’ who grew up in the Detroit area, and made the decision to move west to South Dakota in the spring of 1952. Together they raised 4 boys and 2 girls on their ranch on the edge of the Ree Hills, southwest of Miller. They made their living cattle ranching and farming, and Shirley was a full-time mother and homemaker.

Shirley was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church where she mentored with Kids Hope. She was an adult literacy tutor for the Sioux Falls Area Literary Council, volunteered with the American Cancer Society, and served on the Hand County Library Board. Shirley belonged to the same bridge club in Miller for over 50 years, and still played bridge often when she was able. Shirley was an avid reader and had a deep connection with music.

Shirley cherished spending time with her family and attending her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s activities. She was a kind, generous woman with integrity and a true appreciation for life. She treasured her friendships with people of all ages and enjoyed meeting new people. Shirley demonstrated great strength and resiliency in challenging times. She will be lovingly remembered for her good-natured personality, positive attitude, sense of humor, and her memory for details.

Shirley is survived by her children: Susan Andersen, Sioux Falls, SD; Thomas (Barb) Steers, Carver, MN; Nancy Steers-Beaird (Rolyn Beaird), Sioux Falls, SD; Todd Steers, Fountain Valley, CA; Bob (Diane) Steers, Miller, SD. 12 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren: Kristin (Brian) Aeilts and children, Caleb Miller, Madelynn and Elise Aeilts; Aimie Andersen and son, Alex DeVille; Megan Steers (Justin Roehning) and children, Marissa Steers, Colt and Hayden Roehning; Travis Weber; Garett Steers; Emma (Kody) Aesoph and daughter, Eden; Evan Steers; Sara Steers; Theron Steers; and Katie Steers; Chance (Bobbi Jo) Stouder and son, Jack; and Ivy Haynie; and the mother of Ben’s children, Rebecca Haynie; and granddaughter Megan’s mother, Pam.

She is also survived by her close nieces and nephews: Jan Tse, Sally Atwood, Tom O’Brien, John (Nancy) O’Brien; other family; her bonus grandchildren: Rebecca (Collin) Leck; Adam (Emily), Ariel and Alec Beaird; and her bonus great-granddaughters: Rylie and Lucy Beaird; and a host of friends.

Shirley was proceeded in death by son, Ben; grandson, Connor Stouder; her husband; brothers, Charles (Marge) and John (Marjorie) O’Brien; and her parents.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Shirley's arrangements. 

Ben Steers

Ben, the youngest of 6 children, was born on June 19, 1963 in Miller, SD to Thomas Edward and Shirley Florence (O’Brien) Steers. He was raised on the family ranch southwest of Miller. He attended grade school and junior high in Ree Heights, SD and graduated from Miller High School in 1981.

Ben graduated in 1989 from Southeast Area Vo-Tech School in Sioux Falls, SD with an Associates Degree in Electronics. He then worked for LodgeNet in Sioux Falls where he traveled to various cities in the US as a technician installing satellite movie systems.

In the mid 1990s, Ben moved to Texas. It was there he met Rebecca Haynie and her three young children, Ivy, Chance and Connor. Ben and Rebecca were united in marriage on July 25, 1998, and began raising their family of five together. In August 1999, their daughter Sara was born, and they became a family of six. Ben and Rebecca’s family grew to seven in February 2005, when their son Theron was born.

In late 1999, Ben began working for OneSource Communications in Fort Worth where he was a central office technician until the time of his passing. His strong work ethic and dedication was well-respected, and he had many close friendships with his co-workers during his 21 years with the company.

Ben’s greatest love and source of pride were his children, and the family he and Rebecca built together. He loved driving them to South Dakota in their van to visit family, experience the ranch and small town living, play with their cousins, and introduce them to the joys of playing in the snow. They were active with their church family, and the children’s education. Their bustling life was filled with lively conversation and good humor, and included several dogs to add to the excitement. Ben enjoyed cooking for his family and became very good at it.

Ben and Rebecca divorced 2015. Ben loved his time spent with Theron, who is still in high school and lived nearby. Watching movies, going for walks, teaching Theron how to shoot a gun and a bow – it could be anything, as long as they were together. Ben enjoyed watching car racing, and had wanted to be a race car driver when he was younger.

Ben will be lovingly remembered for his easy-going personality, sense of humor and his kindness. He demonstrated great strength and resiliency in challenging times. Ben was diagnosed at 11 with a congenital defect that damaged both kidneys, making it necessary to have his first of three kidney transplants at age 14. As a result, his weakened immune system caused him to be susceptible to other health issues. Ben was a warrior through it all, and his positive attitude and perseverance was an inspiration to his family and to those who knew him.

Ben is survived by his children, Sara Steers, Provo, UT and Theron Steers, Fort Worth, TX; his mother, Shirley Steers, Sioux Falls, SD (formerly of Miller, SD); his siblings, Susan Andersen, Sioux Falls, SD; Thomas (Barb) Steers, Carver, MN; Nancy Steers-Beaird (Rolyn Beaird), Sioux Falls, SD; Todd Steers, Fountain Valley, CA; Bob (Diane) Steers, Miller, SD; 8 nieces and nephews, and 8 great-nieces and great-nephews: Kristin (Brian) Aeilts and children, Caleb Miller, Madelynn and Elise Aeilts; Aimie Andersen and son, Alex DeVille; Megan Steers (Justin Roehning) and children, Marissa Steers, Colt and Hayden Roehning; Travis Weber; Garett Steers; Emma (Kody) Aesoph and daughter, Eden; Evan Steers; and Katie Steers; his step-children, Ivy Haynie; and Chance (Bobbi Jo) Stouder and son, Jack; the mother of his children, Rebecca; his former parents-in-law, Ken and Nancy Haynie; and a host of other family and friends.

Ben was proceeded in death by his father; his son, Connor Stouder; and his grandparents.

A memorial service in Ben’s honor was held in Fort Worth in June.