MaryAnn Van Steenvoort

MaryAnn (Madson) Van Steenvoort, 88, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, December 4, 2022 at Eventide Heartland Care Center in Devils Lake, ND.

She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. MaryAnn Madson was born on December 28, 1933, the only daughter of the late Ernest J. and Katherine (Lang) Madson in Devils Lake, ND. She was the oldest of three children, followed by her two brothers ElRoy James Madson and Douglas Arthur Madson. They lived in Inkster, ND and later moved to Bisbee where her parents owned and operated a Barber and Beauty Shop. They later moved to Fargo when Ernest was drafted to the Army, and MaryAnn attended St. Mary’s School in Fargo. When her father returned from serving his country the family moved to Devils Lake and opened Kay and Ernie’s Beauty and Barber Shop on 4^th Avenue. In 1952 MaryAnn graduated from St. Mary’s High School. She then attended Wahpeton State School of Science and graduated from New York Hair Design in Fargo. After graduation she moved to Denver, CO with two of her girlfriends where they worked in a beauty salon. In 1962 she returned to Devils Lake and worked with her mother at Kay’s Beauty Shop. 

She was united in marriage to Thomas Van Steenvoort on November 5, 1965 and the city girl turned country. They made their home on a self-sustaining turkey turned hog turned dairy farm. The family together tended their extensive gardens and MaryAnn preserved every kind of vegetable and fruit they raised. The farm was also home to her business, Kut -N- Kurl Beauty Shop, where family, friends, and neighbors had their hair done. MaryAnn and Tom lived, loved, laughed, worked, and raised their family on the farm for 30 years. They entertained and occasionally put to work many lifelong friends and neighbors. There was always a pot of coffee, baked goods, and a deck of cards nearby. Friends and family rarely passed by without popping in for a cup of coffee.

They retired from the hard work of the farm in 1997 and moved to Essex, east of Devils Lake. Tom passed away in October of 1998 and MaryAnn moved to Devils Lake where she was always available to help care for her many grandchildren, watching them after school while their parents worked and attending their many events. She was always their head cheerleader with her consistent, positive message that “I’m so proud of you” (no matter what).

MaryAnn was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Crary, ND until it closed, and then St. Joseph Catholic Church in Devils Lake. She was a proud 50+ member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Royal Neighbors, Farmers Union, and Pork Producers. She also volunteered in the community and enjoyed swimming with her ladies at NDSD. They produced a “Bathing Beauties” Calendar in which she was the “December girl.” They had fun!

MaryAnn is survived by her sisters-in-law Brigid O’Connor and Carleen Ozanich, brother and sister-in-law George and Marie Van Steenvoort, her five children: Michelle (Roderick) Cavanaugh of Sheyenne, ND; Bobbi Lunday (Johnnie Candle) of Devils Lake, ND; Kathy (Dave) Freidig of Crary, ND; Frank (Roxanne) Van Steenvoort of York, ND; Clifford (Jennifer) Van Steenvoort of Devils Lake, ND. Grandchildren: Alex (Katy) Cavanaugh, Brian Cavanaugh, Samantha Lunday, Lakrena Lunday, Anja Lunday, Bailey Lunday, Caitlin Lunday, Dru Lunday, Sylvia Freidig, Dakota Gillespie, Colton Gillespie, Hannah Van Steenvoort, MaKayla, Emma, Averi, Jeremy, Elizabeth, Mavis, Christian, and Hayden Van Steenvoort. She is survived by 13 Great-Grandchildren, many dear cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by and will be welcomed in heaven by her parents Ernest and Kay Madson, loving husband Thomas Van Steenvoort, brother and sister-in-law Elroy James (Yvonne) Madson, brother Douglas Arthur Madson; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Jack Van Steenvoort & (Marcheta), Frances (Wallace) Crawford, Ellen (Rictor) Sather, Eugene Van Steenvoort, Stanley (Bernice) Van Steenvoort, Daniel (Betty) Van Steenvoort; and granddaughters Angel Cavanaugh and Nell Freidig.

Casket bearers for MaryAnn will be Alex Cavanaugh, Brian Cavanaugh, Christian Van Steenvoort, Hayden Van Steenvoort, Colton Gillespie, and Darryll Hursman.

Presenting the Eucharistic gifts will be Sylvia Freidig, Jeremy Van Steenvoort, Elisabeth Van Steenvoort, and Mavis Van Steenvoort

Reading Scriptures will be Hannah Van Steenvoort and Anja Lunday.

A special thank you to all her loving caregivers at Eventide and most especially at Odd Fellows Retirement Home, where they made her feel at home.

Visitation will be held at Gilbertson Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 from 5-7 p.m. with a Rosary led by the Catholic Daughters and Scripture service beginning at 6:00 p.m. with Deacon Ken Severinson.

Mass of the Christian burial will be on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Devils Lake with the Very Reverend C.F. Wilhelm celebrating the Mass. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Mass will be live streamed at Facebook/stjosephdvl. As a gift to the family, please include your mailing address on all condolences.