Dolores Steffes

Longtime Alaskan resident, Dolores Steffes, passed away on July 28, 2025, at the Palmer Veterans & Pioneers Home.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Pavilion behind the Pioneer Home at 250 E. Fireweed Ave, Palmer. The celebration will start at 2:00 PM, on August 2, 2025.

Dolores was born March 23, 1930, in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. Her early life was spent on a farm with her family. In 1946, at age 16, the family moved from the farm back to Saint Cloud. In 1951, she married George Steffes. After the birth of 3 children, in 1957 she and George drove the Alcan to Alaska.

They lived on a homesite in Chugiak for several years. In 1962, they were the first of several homesteads on the Knik River. She was always ready to help the newcomers. It was a tight knit community, and everyone looked out for each other. Dolores was an old hand at dressing out the moose and bear, and salmon and trout the family brought to her. Her seamstress skills came in handy. She made tarps out of salvaged military tents, dog harnesses from webbing material, and even packs for the dogs.

In later years, after the passing of her husband, Dolores lived with her daughter Beverly in Washington. Upon returning to Alaska, she lived with her daughter Theresa and her husband Robert. In 2021, She moved into the Palmer Veterans and Pioneers Home.

Dolores was preceded in death by her husband George, her daughter Doreen, granddaughter Amanda, and great grandson Cliff. She is survived by her daughter Theresa and her husband Robert Hicks, and daughter Beverly McCurdy. She is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, 2 x great grandchildren, 3 x great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.