Margaret R. Stepka

Margaret “Marge” Rose Stepka, 81, of Marine on St. Croix passed away on September 17, 2025. Born on September 12, 1944, in Melrose, Minnesota, Marge was the oldest of eight children, raised on a dairy farm in Meire Grove, Minnesota. Marge spent the first two decades of her life helping take care of her siblings, learning the fine arts of farming, caring for animals, homemaking, the importance of church in the community, and excelling at school.

Marge moved to St. Paul to work as a secretary at St. Bernard’s Church in St. Paul, MN. The room she rented was right across the street from Ken, who would become her future husband. Ken and Marge got married August 28, 1965, and spent the next 60 years together raising a family, travelling, and spending time with family and friends. Marge and Ken bought their first house in St. Paul, MN where Marge worked at JC Penney until having their first child (Susan). From then on, Marge dedicated her life to creating a warm and loving home for her growing family. After her second child (Sharon) was born, the call of farm life was loud, and Marge and Ken answered. They moved to Brennyville, MN and raised beef cattle and crops while Ken also continued to work in St. Paul, driving down daily.

After a few years, Marge and Ken decided it would be better to live closer to the Twin Cities and found what would be their home for the next 51 years in Marine on St. Croix. The hobby farm they chose gave them exactly what they wanted – a place closer to the jobs in the Twin Cities, enough land to have some livestock, crops, and a large garden. They expanded their family again with the birth of their third daughter (Karen).

Marge’s greatest joy came from spending time with her family and friends as shown in the countless family gatherings and holidays she hosted. She especially adored her grandchildren, always thinking about how to make things special for them. Marge enjoyed life on the hobby farm where she continued on many of her German traditions, raised a beautiful and bountiful garden each year and surrounded the house with many beautiful flowers. She passed on the skills and traditions she learned from her parents to her children – nurturing a garden, baking (her bread and appleschuh were some of the best), sewing and a love of music, just to name a few. Marge also liked staying sharp by completing crossword puzzles by the dozen and rarely missed watching or listening to the Minnesota Twins.

After her children moved away, Marge enjoyed the simple things in life with her much-loved husband, Ken. She enjoyed the beauty of the home they created, sitting outside together on a warm summer afternoon, and the sights and sounds of nature from the first robin and frogs singing in the spring, to fresh cut hay in the summer, and the bounty of her garden in the fall.

She is preceded in death by parents, Alfred and Eleanore Meyer (Leukam). She is survived by her beloved husband, Ken; daughters, Susan Stepka (Jim Hayes), Sharon (Chris) Richner, and Karen (Rich) Austin; grandchildren, Brandon Hayes (Ryleigh Mars), Marshall Hayes, and Gracie Hayes; seven siblings, and many nieces and nephews.

 Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at the Church of Saint Peter, 1250 South Shore Drive, Forest Lake, Minnesota.  Visitation one hour prior to mass at the church.  Interment at Calvary Cemetery, Forest Lake, Minnesota.