Salina, Utah- Our mom, Marilyn Martin Steiger died peacefully in her room at Seasons of Santaquin, in Santaquin, Utah the evening of September 5, 2023. She had just celebrated her 90th birthday in May. She was born Friday, May 26, 1933 at 11:30 P.M. and was delivered by Dr. West and welcomed by first-time parents Jay Leith Martin and Grace Leda Chidester. She was born with a full head of auburn red hair. She was the oldest of four children. Her younger years were spent at home on the family farm outside of Salina. She was a very spoiled little girl and was a big help to her parents with her younger siblings. She made friends easily and had many throughout her high school years, but her two best friends were Elaine and Renee, who she loved dearly. She was very popular in high school being named Freshman class President, Sophomore class Secretary, Miss Northern Light, Student Body Vice President, Yearbook Queen, Girls State Delegate, Band Majorette Baton Twirler, and Goddess of Liberty Queen reigning over the July 4, 1951 celebration. After graduating from North Sevier High School, she started working at the Day and Nite Café where she met her future husband Earl John Steiger.
Mom married our dad January 17, 1952 in Las Vegas, Nevada after a very scary ride through a horrible snowstorm. Together they raised five children and were married for 69 years before Stig passed in 2021. Mom was an active member in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving in many different callings until her health started to fail. The calling that kept coming back to her was that of a Primary Teacher, which she held for over 30 years. She was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. One of the things she loved about her room at Seasons of Santaquin was being able to open her blinds and see the Payson Temple.
Marilyn was very active and quite outgoing. She loved to walk everyday in the city park and back with her group of ‘neighborhood friends.’ She loved to bowl and was on a couple of different leagues. She loved to dress up with her friends and go Trick-or-Treating in Gunnison, so no one would know who she was. She loved family get-togethers, especially the annual Christmas Eve party at her home. She loved to sew and make quilts, all of her children and grandchildren received one! She spent countless hours working on her family history and reading the stories of her ancestors. She was absolutely terrified of heights and frogs!
Marilyn was a great wife, mother and grandmother. She loved going to all of her kids and grandkids activities. She loved supporting them as long as she was able.
Mom was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother: Kent Jay Martin, son: Steve Jay Steiger, three grandsons: Joshua Ferrin Steiger, Dannon Scott Steiger, and Jeremy David Downs.
Marilyn is survived by her children: Brent (Stephanie) Steiger of Salina, Sondra (John) Black of Delta, Ferrin (Joy) Steiger of Vernal, Preston (Mary) Steiger of Tucson, Arizona, Allison (Daryl) Downs of Kaysville; 24 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-granddaughters; siblings: Viola Gay Stocks of Mesquite, Nevada and Patricia Ann Anderson of Orem.
We as a family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Richard and the staff at Seasons of Santaquin for their tender and loving care of our mother. And a big thank you to Bonnie Ballard and her staff from hospice care.
Graveside services will be held Monday, September 11, 2023 at the Salina Pioneer Cemetery, 700 Quarry Rd in Salina, at 12:00 P.M. Friends may call for viewing at Springer Turner Funeral Home in Salina, Sunday, August 10, 2023 from 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. as well as Monday morning from 10:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. prior to services.
Live streaming of the services can be found at: www.springerturner.com under Marilyn’s obituary about 15 minutes prior to starting time.
Services are under the care of Springer Turner Funeral Homes of Richfield and Salina, Utah.
