John E. Steece

John Edward Steece was born on October 27, 1927 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Fred and Alice (Gallagher) Steece. He was the third of four sons. John graduated from Sioux Falls Cathedral High School in 1945. He enlisted in the United States Army on February 8, 1946, and served with the Army Honor Guard at the American Embassy in Tokyo, Japan. John was honorably discharged from the Army on July 21, 1947. He co-founded and managed Steece Brothers, a handicraft supply wholesale business, in 1951. John was united in marriage with Helen Hickman on September 6, 1956. Helen passed away on September 29, 1972. John married Mildred Huygens on March 17, 1981 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mildred and John owned and operated Supreme Handicrafts in the Western Mall for many years. On Sunday, August 25, 2024, John passed away peacefully at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 96 years, 9 months, and 29 days.

John was a member of the American Legion Rock County Dell-Hogan Post and the Wilmont VFW Post. He was an avid traveler, and he and Mildred traveled to many places, including Hong Kong, England, Hawaii, Ireland, Scotland, Thailand, and Singapore. John was grateful to attend his Army Honor Guard reunion in Japan.

John is survived by his wife, Mildred Steece of Luverne and her siblings, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews; son, Patrick (Kathleen) of Platte City, Missouri; and brothers, Mark (Jan) Steece and family of Schaumberg, Illinois, and Fred (Judy) Steece and family of Ankeny, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Alice Steece; wife, Helen; daughter, Mary; son, Daniel; brother, Richard Steece; and sister-in-law, Faye Steece.