Ruby Steffey

Ruby Steffey, 92, of St. Paul passed into eternity Saturday, June 3, 2017 of natural causes at Golden Living Center at Lakeview in Grand Island surrounded by her family.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday at Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in St. Paul.  Reverend Momo Larmena, Jr. will officiate.  Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul.

Visitation will be on Monday, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family’s choice or any Veteran’s organization of your choice.

Ruby was born, along with a twin brother on her family farm NW of St. Paul, NE on July 21, 1924 to Ellis and Gertie (Kasson) Klinginsmith.  She grew up on the family farm and attended country school and later St. Paul High School graduation in 1941.  During WW2, she worked at the ordinance plant in Grand Island and later moved to Omaha.

She met and married Merril Steffey of Bassett, NE who was stationed in the Navy.  They were married for over 47 years and during her husband's 31-year career in the Navy they were stationed in Kansas, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Puerto Rico and Florida to name a few.

Ruby's hobbies included traveling and visiting family all over the US.  Ruby made three trips with the Navy Wives Club taking French/English bibles and clothing to the Haitian people.  While in Puerto Rico, she was a member of the Navy VP-18 softball team.

Ruby was an avid bowler and attended several national conference competitions over the years.  She loved dancing and was a member of the Square Dance Club of Key West, FL for 8 years.

After her husband's retirement, they moved back to Nebraska in 1981 to be near family.  Ruby and Merril opened a second-hand store in St. Paul.  She attended many auctions and loved treasure hunting with her metal detector, going to garage sales and thrift stores.  One of her favorite past times was going to the casinos with friends and family.  Ruby loved her family and enjoyed playing cards, dominoes and especially having family over for large homecooked meals.

She was a life time member of Carl Mogensen Legion Auxiliary Unit 119 of St. Paul, the Navy Auxiliary and Navy Wives Club.

Ruby always expressed her faith by serving and helping others in need.

She is survived by her son Terry Steffey and his wife Cathy Ann Steffey of Sun City, AZ, her son Dennis Steffey of Longmont, CO, and her daughter Cynthia (Cindy) Steffey of St. Paul; two granddaughters, Shawna Steffey Huxel of Laveen, AZ and Hannah Cole-Steffey of Denver, CO;  three great granddaughters, Morgan Huxel, Shelby Huxel, and Angela Huxel of Laveen, AZ; three sister in laws, Moragh (Mikki) Klinginsmith of San Antonio, TX, Darlene Klinginsmith of St. Paul, NE and Shirley Klinginsmith of St. Paul, NE.  Ruby was blessed with many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins.  Included is a special member of the family Louise Steffey of Sun City, AZ.

Ruby is preceded in death by her husband Merril Steffey; her parents; five brothers, Robert, Russell, Rex, Gerald, and Jim Klinginsmith; four sisters, Francis Bragg, Evelyn Jones, Opal Gartland, Doris Voorhees and a twin infant brother and sister who died at birth; a grandson, Brent David Steffey; three nephews Kenny Klinginsmith, Clinton Bragg, Randy Voorhees; a niece, Elizabeth Bragg and great nephew Douglas Bragg.