Mary Patricia Steiger

Mary Patricia Steiger, known to all as Mary Pat, was born on November 20, 1930, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Harry Boush Speier and Katherine Elizabeth (Pound) Speier. She married Donald Carl Steiger on November 20, 1954, at St. George's Episcopal Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Mary Pat spent her early years moving with her family throughout the eastern United States, developing a love for meeting new people and adapting to new places. Her father worked for Dunn & Bradstreet, a credit rating agency, but his deep Tennessee roots eventually brought the family back home. She attended Peabody Demonstration School in Nashville and later graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in history and political science. Her faith took root early, nurtured by Bible studies and her grandmother's vivid devotion-who spoke of Jesus "as though he were coming to Sunday lunch." While at Vanderbilt, she shared the joy of attending college with several cousins, including her lifelong best friend, Betty Smith, and had the unique privilege of being taught by her uncle, Dr. Paul Manchester, in Spanish literature. After graduating in 1952, Mary Pat worked in Washington, D.C., with the National Intelligence Agency, researching foreign governments. She returned to Nashville a few years later, planning to teach elementary school, but her life took a different direction during a visit to Sundance, Wyoming, in the summer of 1954. At a Fourth of July picnic atop the Bear Lodge Mountains, her brother, the Reverend Lamar Speier, introduced her to a rancher, Donald "Don" Steiger. Within four months, they were married and spent the first fifteen years raising their family on the JH Ranch near Devils Tower, Wyoming. In 1970, the Steigers relocated to Bentonville, Arkansas, where they remained deeply involved in church, community, and education, while continuing to raise cattle east of town on Highway 72. Mary Pat's life was marked by devotion to her family and her faith. She taught in the Bentonville school system and faithfully served in several church communities, including St. Andrews Episcopal in Rogers, First Presbyterian in Bentonville, and Fellowship Bible Church of Northwest Arkansas. Known for her warmth, communication skills, love of genealogy, and genuine care for others, Mary Pat became a beloved figure to many, touching countless lives with her faith and kindness. She poured her heart into her family, always prioritizing them. Her influence shaped generations as her children pursued careers and built families of their own. She is survived by her six children and their spouses: Donald Carl Steiger Jr. (Rocky), Fritz Speier Steiger, Katherine Ruth Steiger, Donna Harriet Winn (Scott), Lamar Speier Steiger (Shari), and Alex Emil Steiger (Shelly). Her legacy includes eighteen grandchildren: Emily Jandak (Dan), Benjamin Steiger, Rebekah Myhill McCallum (Brian), Abbey Myhill Crabb (Steve), Rachael Myhill Miller (Jon), Eli Steiger, Sam Steiger (Sakina), Jonathan Steiger, Will Steiger (Autumn), Zechariah Steiger, Sarah Steiger Kashubin (Tim), Elizabeth Steiger Kutac (John), Olivia Steiger Heston (Tyler), Ian Winn, Alexandra Winn, Kate Steiger Hooper (Chris), Peter Steiger (Jenna), and Grace Steiger. She is also the proud great-grandmother of 20 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brother, and a granddaughter, Katelyn Ruth Myhill. Together, Mary Pat and Don Steiger leave behind a vibrant Christian legacy. Special thanks to the Gardens of Osage Terrace and their amazing staff! Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the foyer of Fellowship Bible Church, Bentonville. A private internment will be at the United States Veterans Cemetery in Fayetteville, where she will be laid to rest beside her beloved Don. Memorial gifts can be made to Fellowship Bible Church, Bentonville, Arkansas.