Belva Steese
February 17, 1926 — February 25, 2016
Mifflinburg – Belva Kester Steese, 90, of 808 Crestview Rd., entered into rest Thursday, February 25, 2016, at RiverWoods.
How do you possibly put 90 years of life {2/17/1926-2/25/2016} into a few paragraphs? I think love is the most fitting answer. To understand the ending, you need to know the beginning & middle first. Belva was the daughter of Earl & Helen Kester Shirk. She loved the Mifflinburg area and was a graduate of Mifflinburg High School.
Belva “Honey” “Bep” “Beppy” K. Steese was not only a woman of many names, but a woman of many passions. Her greatest and most prized passion of all was that of her husband, Ralph J. “Pap” Steese whom after 14 years of being physically separated by his death, they are now reunited by the grace of God. “Pap” and “Bep” were wed on January 20, 1944 in Hartleton, PA. Their love for each other and family helped to generate an extraordinary family tree that she is survived by, including: a daughter, Nadine Noone of West Milton, son Earl Steese (Donna) of Mifflinburg, son Tod Steese of Mifflinburg, and son Stephen Steese (Suzi) of Georgia. In addition to her children, she is survived by 13 grandchildren: Tanya Walker (Wayne), Chad Steese (Cindy), Vance Noone (Pam), Tim Noone (Janel), Denise Waldman (Lance), Kyle Steese (Amanda), Bethanie Allen (Josh), Marty Steese, Marcie Steese, Stephen Steese, Katherine Steese, Haylie Steese and Logan Steese, along with numerous nieces, nephews, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren. She is also survived by 1 sister, Leona “Nonie” Hackenberg of Lewisburg. “Bep” is preceded in death by two brothers, Robert Shirk of Surfside, SC and Walter Shirk of Surfside, SC and one great grandson, Zachary Getsinger of Charleston, SC.
“Bep” displayed love in many forms: whether it be cooking, canning, homemade gifts, knitting, quilting, playing cards, membership in the Ladies Auxiliary of Mifflinburg, volunteering, or her employment at The Laurelton State School, Mifflinburg High School Cafeteria and Keister’s Auction in Middleburg…everything she did was with passion and endearment with a splash of spunk and sass.
The family would also like to acknowledge and thank the staff of Riverwoods that were able to not only embrace “honey’s” loving and spunky personality but cared and loved for her as one of their own family members.
Although planting flowers and gardening was another passion of “honey’s”, the family asks at this time that in lieu of flowers, please spread love further through donation to the Mifflinburg Ladies Auxiliary of Mifflinburg Hose Company: 325 Chestnut Street, Mifflinburg Pennsylvania 17844.
Although there are many hearts that will be touched and sadly effected by a physical world without our “honey”, these same hearts will joyously celebrate the life and love lessons and attributes she has passed along as we know she is finally meeting her Lord alongside her “pap”. One of “honey” and “paps” favorite things to do was to take the time to go for Sunday drives to find covered bridges, stop on the bridge, and kiss everyone in the car. I think if there was a greater lesson in life to take from that and from “Honey’s” life it would be this: Take the time to stop for love & spread it to those that you cherish most!
Family and friends are welcome from 10-11:00 am Thursday at Roupp Funeral Home, Inc., 8594 Old Turnpike Road, Mifflinburg where a memorial service will be conducted at 11 with Rev. John Yost officiating.