GRACE STEAVENSON

Sunday morning the sad news reached DeSoto of the death of Mrs. Hugh Steavenson of Omaha, who died Saturday evening, a victim of Spanish influenza. Before her marriage Mrs. Steavenson was Miss Grace Allen and had visited many times in DeSoto and had many good friends here.

#2-Published in the Tribune October 10, 1918 Mrs. Grave Steavenson, daughter of Wm. Allen, who lives about 11 miles south of Blair, died at her home in Omaha Saturday of Spanish influenza, and was buried in the Allen Cemetery near her father's home on Wednesday. Mrs. Steavenson was 44 years of age, and was well known in Blair.

#3-Published in the Enterprise October 11, 1918

Mrs. H. A. Steavenson, known to her girlhood friends of this county as Grace Allen, died at her home at Clifton Hill, Omaha, at noon of last Sunday, October 6th, 1918.

Mrs. Steavenson was a native of this county, having been born and reared on the old Allen homestead south of this city.

As a girl she was a general favorite and loved for her happy disposition, always looking on the bright side of life and this happy trait followed her through her entire life.

She, as a child, attended the Long Creek School, and, as a young woman, went back there as it’s teacher, occupying that position for five years. She also taught in the Maney district in her neighborhood for three years. In these schools she was idolized by her pupils and held in the highest esteem by the patrons and as a mark on the last respect that could be shown her, both schools were closed at noon on the day of her funeral.

She was married to H. A. Steavenson January 22, 1903 and to this union four children were born. William, aged fifteen; Amy, aged thirteen; Alfred, aged eight and Grace Eloise, aged three.

The funeral services were held from the home of her childhood on Wednesday afternoon, October 9, and the large number of friends who gathered to show their last tribute of esteem in which she was held.

Mrs. Steavenson was born January 1, 1874 and was nearing her forty-fifth year when she was called to the Great Beyond.

She was a true wife, a devoted mother and true friend at all times to those in trouble. She had been in poor health for some time and while caring for her children, who were ill, contracted bronchial pneumonia which caused her death. She was a member of the Eastern Star of Fort Calhoun and of the Nikuma Chapter of the D.A.R. of Blair. She was a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, of Omaha, and the funeral services were conducted by Rev. Flockhart of the church, assisted by Rev. Marsh, of this city, who had officiated at her marriage years before.

The body was laid to rest in the family cemetery.

Deceased leaves to mourn her death, a husband, the four children already mentioned, an aged father, four brothers, Grant, Scott, Clyde and Clark Allen and one sister, Mrs. A. J. Lazure.

~~~Obituary courtesy of the Washington Genealogical Society. Newspaper clipping on file at the Blair Public Library.~~~