"Don't ever put me in a nursing home, and when I die don't have an open casket, I don't want people gawking over me when I'm dead". On Monday, June 22, 2015 Georgia Steinke aka "Grandma G", got her wish and passed peacefully in her sleep, in her own bed and in her own apartment. A celebration of her life will be held 11:00 Saturday July 18, 2015 at Goetz Funeral Home, Turtle Lake, ND. Officiating will be Pastor Wendell Kelm. Interment will be held at a later date in the Union Cemetery, Neche, ND.

We all learned a lot from Grandma G over the years that we were blessed to have her in our lives. Things that may seem small to others, but affected us all in different ways. She taught us how to share the spoon when cleaning out her infamous fudge pan, or to make sure the bird and squirrel feeders were always full. That one should never leave the house without lipstick or earrings, or leave the house without unplugging everything and then going back to double check each outlet. That a puppy was always worth getting down on your knees to pet and the smell of a horse just had to be inhaled and appreciated. And of course, how to avoid having your photo taken despite the numerous pleas of loved ones. That it was just fine to have French toast for supper at 11pm or angel food cake with three different colors of frosting. How using a crossword dictionary wasn't really cheating when you were stuck. That is wasn't ok to call before noon, but talking on the phone past midnight was just fine. And that each baby should have their thighs pinched. That chocolate was great anytime, anywhere even if you were a diabetic (thus keeping Widman's Chocolates in business for years ensuring we all had goodies for each holiday). And that being a democrat and a farmer was not an oxymoron but the way it should be. She left us with sweet memories and yes sometimes with hurt feelings for being the opinionated lady she was. Although never her intent to harm at times her brutal honesty showed us how to be more comfortable with ourselves the positive and the not so positive and her honesty was what helped us grow.

She was born to the union of Agnes (Kain) and Henry Kelm on June 10, 1928. Grandma G spoke fondly of her father and her childhood memories of him and growing up in the Neche area. Ever the farm girl, the stories always involved a calf, horse, dog or her brother Wendell. Grandma G was also the big sister to Dean and Cheryl (Kelm) Haney, who being much younger, were more like children to her and who often received her maternal eye, cookies, fruitcakes and advise (whether solicited or not). Her marriage to her "honey", Albert "Ab" Steinke in 1945 produced two children, Candice Montonye and Blythe McGovern on their farm in the Pembina, ND area. Ever the devoted farm wife, she shared in equal amounts of tractor time, truck time and time feeding the crew in the fields.

Retirement from farming allowed her and Ab to travel and enjoy their grandchildren, Desiree Montonye and Scott Parrott. Grandma G enjoyed socializing with many friends, and although not a drinker, she would enjoy a Vodka – 7 and a good game of whist with close friends. Birthday club each month provided her with good times, laughing and many women she called friends. After Ab passed away in 1989, her grandson, Scott moved to the farm to help out. When Scott left for college and increasing health issues became too much, Grandma G moved to Turtle Lake, ND to be closer to her daughter Candice. She spent her final years watching her great-granddaughter, Hailee Spratley grow up. Grandma G was also aunt "Porgy" to some and her home, fudge and arms were always open to her nieces and nephew: Timbra (Kelm) Millar, Tamara (Kelm) Mirsch, Tayna (Kelm) Hylden & Joseph Haney. Later other great-granddaughters , Natalie and Aubrey Parrott entered Grandma G's heart and filled her apartment and refrigerator with photos and much loved memories. She was always asking for new photos of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephew and great nieces and nephews and was ever concerned about their wellbeing.

If you were to stop into her apartment, you would find her working on a crossword, feeding the squirrel she taught to eat from her hand, or watching the Bison play football or Tiger Woods playing golf! Although toward the end, Grandma G had grown tired on this journey and would often comment on how difficult it had become, she always had time to listen, to make a cup of coffee or just give you a hug. And it is the little things we will miss….the little things that touched us ALL so very deeply.

Georgia is survived by her daughter, Candice Montonye, Turtle Lake, ND; granddaughter, Desiree Montonye Johnson, Ironton, MN, great-granddaughter, Hailee Spratley, Ironton , MN; grandson, Scott Parrott (Wife Kristin) Jordan, MN and great-granddaughters: Natalie and Aubrie Parrott, Jordan, MN; siblings: Wendell (Wife Lois), Fergus Falls, MN, Dean, Cheryl (Husband Robert Haney) ; nieces and nephew: Timbra (Husband Tom Millar), Tamara (Husband David Mirsch), and Tanya (Husband Todd Hylden) and Joseph Haney; great nieces and nephews: Drake Mirsch, Hadassah and Abraham Hylden and Lydia Haney. She is also survived by Lonnie and Lanny Schweitzer, the "Sons she never had" who held a special place in her heart as well.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband and a daughter, Blythe McGovern.